What on Earth?
Hope you are staying cool today by staying inside! On Facebook today I found this tribute by Rudi Schreff of his father, the legendary restauranteur Rupprecht Schreff of Springfield's The Fort/Student Prince.
August 1996
My father left Germany in 1934 at the age of twenty years. He did not like what was happening in Germany and saw the New World as a land of opportunity. He started at the Highland Hotel in Springfield, where he worked hard, played hard and saved 50 cents weekly.
In 1936 he returned to Germany to fulfill his obligation as a draftee into the German army, a photo of him at the Berlin Olympics shows him timidly wearing an Olympic symbol and an American flag. He had selected his country. In 1941 he was drafted into the American army and became a U.S. citizen. He became a drill sargeant, with his thick German accent occasionally causing problems. He said no one ever harassed him about it a second time.
In 1944 he was part of the forces invading Europe. He ship was torpedoed in the English Channel. 802 died. Dad not only survived, he managed to rescue a bottle of Scotch whiskey!
He married Mary, with whom he had corresponded throughout his army term. She understood him and cared for him, never complaining. One of the sad things about my father's personality was that he had a hard time telling my mother how much he loved her and appreciated her. The only charge he left me was, "Take care of Mother."
Even after two amputations, Dad never complained. He always asked how other people were doing. On July 23, 1996 he was breathing with difficulty. I stopped by in the morning to see him for a few minutes and then went to where my father would have wanted me - work! Mary and Barbara, Ronnie and the twins, came in and talked to my Dad for a bit. He kissed my son and then stopped breathing. As a crying child entrusts a parent my father went with the Lord.
There were 85 floral pieces. People from all walks of life and both sides of the law came to pay their respects. The funeral was beautiful. Maggie sang Silent Night with the voice of an angel. Father Boyle's eulogy was inspired. The Bishop's words were warm and comforting. The Sampson's wonderful job ended with a surprise - bag pipes and drums to escort Rupprecht from the Cathedral down State to Main blocking noon traffic. He would have loved it. The hearse stopped in front of the restaurant where all paid their final respects. Imagine, a penniless Lutheran immigrant with five priests and a Bishop residing at his funeral. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
P.S. Many of you have said you would like to know how you could help the family. The best way you can help is to tell us if something is wrong so we can make it right. Dad would approve.
Meanwhile, Tracy Lovvorn is running again to unseat congressional arch-villain Jim McGovern. Hey, send her some money, why don't ya?
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