Jerome B. "Jerry" Kaup

Jerome Bernard Kaup, “Jerry”, was born at home south of Atkinson, Nebraska, on April 17, 1941, to Bernard Joseph and Josephine (Krysl) Kaup. The family moved south of Newport, Nebraska, when Jerry was four years old. They lived there until 1955 when they moved southeast of Bassett, Nebraska, where they had a dairy and beef cattle operation. Jerry attended Rock County High School where he met Barbara Sybrant, who would later become his wife. 

In October 1959 he was inducted into the US Army. He served as Communications Chief in South Korea with Company “C” 11th Engineering Battalion, who were building missile bases on mountains near the DMZ 38th parallel. The company later moved south of Seoul. Jerry had a special memory from that time of a Christmas dinner for children from a local orphanage. In April 1961 he was discharged with the rank of Specialist Fourth Class. 

Jerry and Barbara were married August 19, 1963. They ranched on the Genevieve (Sandall) Robinson place east of Bassett, where Tamara and Kristin were born. In 1969 the family moved to the Jack Bair place southeast of Bassett, and then in 1972 moved back to the Sandall place, which they later bought. In 1975 Brian was born and Jerry and Barbara bought the Lila (Frank) Patitz place southeast of Bassett.

In 1977 Jerry contracted encephalitis, which paralyzed him on the left side. The doctors were not sure he would walk again, but he eventually recovered except for some loss of feeling on the left side. Jered was born in 1978. 

Jerry and Barbara built a house on the new place and moved there in 1979, where Jerry ranched until the last three years of his life. All his children worked in the hayfield and the boys helped ranch until they left home. Brian returned to help ranch in 2011. 

Jerry was a careful steward of his cattle and the land. His children remember him coming in with icicles hanging from his mustache and the occasional newborn calf staying overnight in the utility room or the bathtub. He once survived a charging cow by partly squeezing under a four-wheeler, afterward walking into the house with a few broken ribs. 

He was a devoted member of the Catholic Church and taught high school CCD religion classes at Holy Cross Catholic Church for many years, including to three of his children.

He enjoyed taking grandchildren out to check cattle and picking wildflowers for Barbara. He was famous for testing how much a dinner plate could hold at smorgasbords and family reunions.

He moved to Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in 2021 because of Parkinson’s disease complications, and he passed away there on November 20, 2024, with family members by his side. He was preceded in death by his parents, three infant siblings and sister-in-law Sandra Kaup.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara; sister, Bernelda (William) Coventry, and brother, Rodger Kaup; children: Tamara (Johannes Knops) Kaup, Kristin (Maximo) Quintana, Brian (Amanda) Kaup and Jered Kaup; grandchildren: Sophia (Jacob) Hoffman, Cristopher Fishback, Riley Kaup, Matilda Knops, Remy Kaup and Becket Kaup; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Linda (Lyle) Johnson, Carol (Rick) Koinzan and David (Diane) Sybrant; along with nieces, nephews and other family members. 

 Funeral Mass for Jerome B. “Jerry” Kaup was held on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bassett, Nebraska, with Fr Mike Wetovick as Celebrant. Music selections “Amazing Grace”, “Be Not Afraid” and “One Bread, One Body” were provided by Trudy Nolles, and CD selection “The Rose” by Conway Twitty was played. Casket Bearers were Cristopher Fishback, Riley Kaup, Justin Sybrant, Bradley Kaup, Max Quintana and Morgan Sybrant. Honorary Casket Bearers were all of Jerry’s other friends and family. Interment was held in the Sybrant Cemetery near Bassett where Military Rites were given by Bassett American Legion Post #123. Memorials may be directed to the Bassett American Legion Post #123 or to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Jerry’s name. Arrangements were made under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.