Eleanor B Tuepker

Eleanor B. Tuepker, 99, of Holden, MO, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at Country Club Care Center in Warrensburg, MO. Eleanor was born January 27, 1917, in Holden, the daughter of Katharine (Reinhardt) and Homer Bluhm, a longtime Holden family. She enjoyed all of her education in the Holden Public Schools and continued by earning her Associate Degree at William Woods College in Fulton, MO. She worked in Kansas City before meeting and marrying John Herbert Tuepker and living in California, MO, and Excelsior Springs, MO, before he was drafted in WWII and served in Europe. Their first two children, Katharine and John Lee joined Eleanor in thankfully welcoming Herb home. At that time the family moved to the farm, one mile east of Holden which became home from then until the present. Julie (Brunner) was born in 1955 giving Eleanor the opportunity to raise another eager child. She also cared for her loving niece, Maria Bluhm, during some of these years. Eleanor was active in the Holden Presbyterian Church all these years as well as being involved in the education of her children, the Shakespeare Book Club, Eastern Star, and various projects involving the library and community life. Eleanor’s twin sister, Evelyn Basinger, California, MO and an extended family there, were a large part of the Tuepker life. Her brother William Charles and his family were likewise vital as the family often gathered with Katharine and Homer and on the farm. After the death of Herb in 1988, Eleanor began hosting even larger family reunions which bound the growing families closer together. Everyone acknowledged her great ability to listen to and to understand all ages and stages. Both family and friends respected Eleanor for her interest in learning and questioning and seeking to be a positive force in any way she could. In her early 90’s, Eleanor moved to Country Club Care Center where she maintained her apartment for almost 10 years. She took a great interest in her new friends and the community they formed to support one another. She was grateful for every visit from every friend including Rev. Jason Ku and her church friends who even had meetings at the center with her. Likewise, the Fellowship group led by Gerri Kent kept her heart and mind active. She was preceded in death by her husband Herb, her parents, sister Marjorie, and brother William Charles. Eleanor is survived by her twin sister Evelyn Basinger, California, MO, and Evelyn’s children Carole and Donald and their children and grandchildren. Also surviving are her niece Maria Betts (Robert) Austin, TX, and nephews Bill Bluhm (Helen) Pacific Palisades, CA, and Larry Bluhm (Marina), Huntsville, TX and all the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Bluhm branch. Eleanor’s three children and their spouses survive: Katharine Finks (Harry), Anacortes, WA; John Tuepker (Claire Jo) Long Beach, MS and Portland, OR; and Julie Bunner (Larry), Kingsville, MO. Grandchildren are Julie and Whitaker Finks, Seattle, Anais Miller (Craig), Portland, OR, Katharine Anderson (Garrett), Portland, OR, and Amy Joy Tuepker, The Netherlands; Neil Brunner (Naomi), Lee’s Summit, MO, and Celeste Roberts (Brian), Fairway, KS. Great-grandchildren are Whitaker Jr., Gregory, Isaiah Finks; Claire and Seth Miller, Ferris Jordan, and Phillip Lee Anderson; Madison Tiberio, Finn and Vivienne Brunner, Fisher and Charlie Roberts. Surviving also are Tuepker nieces Barbara (Bill) Weis and Marilyn Privat. There are even more of her beloved family, near and far, who are remembering Eleanor with love and respect. We all want to thank the wonderful staff of Country Club Care Center who became like family. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Holden Presbyterian Church (Syrian refugee fund) or to Johnson County Hospice Care.

Eleanor B Tuepker

January 27, 1917 - December 1, 2016