John Deupree

John Paul Deupree was born in the midst of fireworks on July 4, 1932, in Dora, Missouri. He was the 4th and youngest child born to D.B. and Anna Fay Deupree. He passed away peacefully in Springfield, Missouri on June 23, 2022. He was 89 years old.

Funeral Services will be held for family and friends at Herman Lohmeyer Funeral Home in Springfield, MO on July 5, 2022. Visitation in the chapel will be 3-4pm followed by the funeral service at 4pm.

Graveside service will be at Sweeton Pond Cemetery, Dora, MO on July 6, 2022, at 10am with Full Military Honors.

John is preceded in death by his parents D.B. and Anna Fay Deupree, brothers David and Phillip Deupree, and sister Martha Louise McDivitt.

He is survived by Cousin Dick Deupree of Dora, MO along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family who loved him dearly.

John was born in Dora, Missouri and raised on the farm milking cows and working hard with his family. He graduated from Dora High School in 1950 and upon graduation he moved briefly to Oregon where he worked in the woods doin' some logging until he was drafted in 1952 and had to return home to report for service in Ava, MO.

From 1952 to 1954 he served in the Korean War as part of the army artillery Alpha Battery 623d Field Artillery Battalion. He was discharged as a Sergeant to the Army Reserves then honorably discharged in 1961. John received the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service Medal, United National Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. Over the years he recalled many stories and adventures of his time in the war along with his discharge from Ft. Carson, CO and the return trip home to Dora, MO.

Upon returning to the family farm in '54 he was unable to have successful crops the following years. So, along with Anna Fay and D.B., the farm was sold, and they moved to Fortuna, California where John worked driving a logging truck. It was in Fortuna that he met his wife. They were married in 1960 and divorced in 1971.

From 1967 to 1980 he was employed by Webb Service Company in Los Angeles, CA as a supervisor in the components department. He left California to return to his beloved Ozarks in 1980 and lived in Springfield, MO ever since.
He became a Missouri State Employee in 1983 as a maintenance worker. He retired after 14 years with many friends, memories, and more stories to tell.

Being newly retired he loved to travel exploring National Parks and visiting family. His favorite past time became exploring his family ancestry, drinking coffee and Saturday drives in the country. He also cared for his older sister for many years, who lived with him until she passed away in 2016.

John began volunteering for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as a van driver in 1997. He volunteered for 18 years and logged hundreds of thousands of miles driving veterans to the hospital in Kansas City and other clinics throughout Missouri. He was always willing to help when other scheduled drivers had to cancel so veterans could get the care they needed. When he began volunteering, he would drive veterans from WWI. He truly valued his service as a DAV volunteer.

John loved the Lord. He read his Bible daily and loved talking about Him. As his homecoming is celebrated in Heaven, he is greatly missed by all his family, friends, and neighbors.