March 6, 2008  

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Gerald E. Houppert, 85, Bellew Ave., and a winter resident of Perico Bay Club, Bradenton, Fla., died Tuesday, March 4, at Tidewell Hospice Home, Bradenton, where he had resided since Feb. 16.

Calling hours will be held 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 9, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 214 Sterling St., Watertown. A prayer service will be held 10:15 a.m. Monday, March 10, at the funeral home  followed by a 11 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church with Rev. Donald Robinson, pastor, officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Glenwood Cemetery, town of Watertown.

Born Nov. 13, 1922, in Martinsburg, the second of ten children born to Christopher and Angeline Aucter Houppert, he graduated with a Regents diploma from Lowville Academy at age 16.

Mr. Houppert entered the Navy on Dec. 17, 1942, serving with Combat Aircraft Service Unit #44 (CASU44) on the island of Tinian in the Marianas. He was present on Aug. 6, 1945 when Col. Paul Tibbets took off in the Enola Gay for Hiroshima, hastening the end of World War II. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 7, 1946, receiving the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with 1 Star, the American Theater Ribbon, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. 

Five months before his death, Mr. Houppert was interviewed by Mike Russert for the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Oral History and Research Center. His DVD interview, written narrative, and World War II photos are available for research and review at the museum in Saratoga Springs.

He married Rita G. Castro on Aug. 18, 1946, at St. Anthony's Church with Msgr. Claude Sechi officiating.

Mr. Houppert worked for the Massey Machine Co. for 10 years as a machinist and superintendent. He was later worked at Knowlton Bros. for 27 years as supervisor of quality control and production supervisor before retiring in 1984.

He was a regular communicant of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, and St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Bradenton Beach, Fla. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1400, and of the U. S. Navy CASU44 Reunion Group, attending each of its last eight annual reunions from 2000 to 2007.

Surviving are his wife, Rita G. Houppert; a daughter and her husband, Karen M. and Samuel H. Hazleton IV, Diamond Point on Lake George; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gerald E. Houppert, Jr., Watertown, and Christopher and Lorraine C. Houppert, Missoula, Mont.; seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Marion Denslow, Lowville; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Four brothers, James, Richard, Herbert, and Milton Houppert, and four sisters, Luella Dyer, Doris Phillips, Betty Stys, and Martha Sanders, all died before him.

The family wishes to express it deepest gratitude to the Tidewell Hospice Home for its beautiful surroundings and tender care of Mr. Houppert in his final days. 

Donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice Home, 2504 34th Ave. West, Bradenton, FL 34205 or to V. F. W. Post 1400, 231 Bellew Ave., Watertown, N.Y. 13601.

Obituary provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.