Lifelong farmer, Lawrence Peter Huppert, age 85, of Hager City, Wis., passed away peacefully at Ellsworth Health Services on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. Lawrence was the second of five children born to Frank and Evelyn Joyce (Noll) Huppert on June 3, 1940, in Red Wing, Minn. He grew up on a dairy farm, also raising crops, beef, pigs, chickens, a few sheep, and horses.
He was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s-Big River Catholic Church, rural River Falls, where he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School through the eighth grade. Lawrence was proud to have been an altar server, walking to church to serve daily Mass. He then went on to Prescott High School, where he met a “city gal,” Mary Jane Cernohous. During his junior year, his father suffered a heart attack and was no longer able to farm, so Lawrence left school to take over the family farm.
On June 25, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane, and brought her out to the country. This union spanned 65 years while raising their five children—Gail, Theresa, Maria, Michael, and Mary Beth—on the family farm. He taught them a strong work ethic, working alongside him from morning ‘til night. He had a great love of the land, especially during spring planting and fall harvest. He was proud to pass on a third-generation farm to his son, Michael.
They survived a devastating dairy barn fire in 1966, where neighbors rallied around, building an outdoor makeshift milking setup until a new barn could be built. In later years, they purchased the Armbruster farm on County Road OO with the big red round barn, where they hosted lively country barn dances. Lawrence was even featured in an advertisement with the round barn behind him.
He enjoyed deer hunting, snowmobiling, tractor pulls, and demolition derbies. He loved attending auctions, playing cards, and checking on his neighbors—and their crops—daily. He also enjoyed planting a garden which had to include a good patch of sweet corn.
Lawrence loved Minneapolis-Moline and John Deere tractors, but also had Case and International. His first new tractor was a Minneapolis-Moline, and his first new combine was an orange Case. He hand-built his kids a double teeter-totter and painted it John Deere green! He was often seen on his John Deere Gator, working on the farm with his dog riding beside him on the front seat.
Over the years, Lawrence had many hired hands who helped around the farm—many of whom became like family. He believed in second chances and often took others into his home, teaching them practical skills and the value of hard work.
There were many card parties, family picnics, potlucks, Minnesota State Fair adventures, and vacations across the U.S. to see farmland. Lawrence had countless friends, relatives, and neighbors of all ages. He always had a “joke of the day” ready to share with anyone he met or called.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Huppert; children Gail (Tom) Stewart of Prescott, Wis., Theresa (Mark) Hei of Prescott, Wis, son-in-law Kai Mander of Albany, Calif., Michael Huppert (Kristia Melstrom) of Hager City, Wis., and Mary (Kevin) Schaar of River Falls, Wis.; 12 grandchildren: Mariah (Ben) Ottemoeller, Cate Stewart, Claire Stewart, Brittany (Kip) Finger, Zachary (Sarah) Hei, Jacob (Emily) Hei, Ezra Mander, Eli Mander, Cody Rohl, Haley Huppert, Lawrence Schaar, and Raymond Schaar; eight great-grandchildren: Vivian and Rose Finger, Finley, Beckett, and Caiden Hei, and Magdalene, Lucia, and Anastasia Ottemoeller; sisters Phyllis Kinneman and Geraldine “Geri” (Jay) Rohl; sister-in-law Rose Mary Huppert; brother Alfie (Bardi) Huppert; and many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Evelyn Huppert; daughter Maria Mander; brother Francis Huppert; brother-in-law Kenny Kinneman; nephew Jamie Rohl; and great-granddaughter Laila Finger.
Special thanks to Fr. Brenna of St. Mary’s-Big River, the pastoral ministers and many kind visitors who brought Christ’s presence and joy to Lawrence during his time at the nursing home and hospitals. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Lawrence will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, with a visitation prior from 12:30-2 p.m. at St. Mary’s-Big River Catholic Church, W10137 570th Ave., River Falls, WI, with Fr. Brenna officiating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Prescott, Wis., with a luncheon to follow at The Ridgetop. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the discretion of the family.
Funeral services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home, Ellsworth, Wis.
