Beatrice Wilma Kupke

Beatrice Wilma Kupke, 93, formerly of Hickory, NC for 45 years, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at Village Care of King, NC surrounded by her family.

Born on January 18, 1930 in Grosse Pointe, Detroit, Michigan, Beatrice was the daughter of the late William and Bertha Schreiner Stenke.

Beatrice had an exuberance and zest for life that included a strong love of family, church and community.

She married the love of her life, Harold Kupke, in Detroit, Michigan on April 15th, 1952. Then they continued their adventure by moving to Los Angeles in 1954 to help start several churches and to focus on their growing family. In 1963, Harold and Bea moved with their 5 children to Seward, Nebraska, where she thrived in the close-knit community at Concordia University and St. John's Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. She took art classes, taught 4-H, Cub Scouts and led Campfire Girls. The Kupke family moved to Hickory, NC in 1972 where she supported her husband's teaching career at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

While raising her children, Bea followed several career paths of her own. She worked for the Hickory Police, Detective Division, and also as a legal secretary for Attorney Carroll Weathers, Jr. Her final profession was as a top selling real estate agent with Century 21.

Bea created many quilts for the Moldovan orphans in a special mission outreach at Christ Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC. Because of this special outreach, an honorary Consulate for Moldova was formed in Hickory, and the Ambassador attended Christ Lutheran Church as a testament of love from the country of Moldova. Bea loved working for her church and her passion was shown through volunteering, fundraising, creating beautiful spiritual banners, singing and sharing delicious desserts.

Bea was an avid rockhound, belonging to the Catawba Valley Gem and Mineral Club. She created beautiful wearable art with her newly found treasures from rock digs around the country.

She loved working in her gorgeous yard, planting flowers and was active with her local garden club.

Beatrice was full of spunk and energy, and never met a stranger. She always supported the things of God, her children, community and church. Her captivating smile shines down on us from heaven.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husbands, The Reverend Dr. Harold G. Kupke and Frank T. Gilmore; son, Dr. David W. Kupke; grand-daughter Kara D. Manthei; sister and brother-in-law Marie and Alfred Chapman; a nephew, Timothy j. Chapman; brother and sister-in-law Ronald and Barbara Stenke; son-in-law Dan Manthei; brother-in-law Robert Nutto; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. Donald W. and Carol F. Kupke.

Those left to cherish her memory include:

Children: Kathryn Kupke Manthei; Carol Kupke Lang (Thomas); Dr. Kenneth G. Kupke (Martha McAllister); Lois Kupke Cox (Mark). Daughter-in-law, Kay Stewart Kupke.

Grandchildren: Daniel S. Kupke (Amanda Collins); Laura Kupke Field (Alex); Micah D. Manthei (Anna Schumacher); Alexa Manthei Syverson (Jesse); Christiana O. Manthei; Evan T. Lang (Eunhye Sung); Tara Lang Shah (Amol); Rianne K. Lang (Ryan Johnson); Lincoln M. Kupke (Shreen Sandhu); Annabel I. Kupke; Kasi Cox Shay (Michael).

Great-grandchildren: Hazel and Virginia Field; Sage and Walter Manthei; Leena and Kieran Shah; Carter and Emma Shay.

Sister-in-law, Dorothy Kupke Nutto and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 at Christ Lutheran Church, 324 2nd Ave SE, Hickory, NC at 1:30 pm with The Reverend Alec Fisher and The Reverend Dr. David Ludwig officiating. She will be laid to rest at Catawba Memorial Park following the service.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church, Hickory, NC in Beatrice’s name.

Condolences may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com.

The Kupke Family is under the care Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals & Cremations.