August "Gus" Uphaus

August "Gus" Uphaus, 94, Seneca, KS, died Tuesday evening, December 23, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
     He was born November 16, 1909, at Vorden, Germany, the son of Bernard and Johanna Kamps Uphaus. Gus graduated from Catholic schools and attended one year at St. Ludwig College in Germany. In Janaury of 1927 when he was 17 years old, he came to the United States. Henry Rottinghaus was his sponsor and he worked for him for 13 months, and later for Joe Ronnebaum and Frank Sudbeck farming and raising cattle. He worked hard and bought his own farm east of Seneca.
     On January 24, 1934, he married Rose E. Ronnebaum at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1984. His wife, Rose, died June 19, 1987.
     He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and president of the St. Joseph Society for many years. Gus was a member of the Knights of Columbus #1769, a past Grand Knight, and also a member of the 4th Degree Ponce de Leon Assembly.
     Gus enjoyed several trips back to his homeland. He was also well known in the area as a winemaker.
     Survivors are six sons, Leonard and Robert of Topeka, John of Wichita, Donald of Seneca, Richard of Erie, KS, Kenneth of Leavenworth; a brother Joseph and a sister Marie Hugelmier both of Germany; seventeen grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
     Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers Bernard and Herman, and five sisters. Paula Wheming, Josepha Grafphmeyer, Elizabeth Macke, Angelia and Johanna.
      The mass of Christian burial will be 10 A.M. Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 P.M. Friday and a prayer service will be conducted at 7 P.M. Friday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Gus will lie in state at the funeral home after 8:30 A.M. Friday.
      Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School and sent in care of the family.