Jerome J. "Romie" Kaup, 84, 815 Sunset Drive, Coldwater, died at 1:55 p.m. Feb. 25, 2009, at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater.

He was born March 2, 1924, in Coldwater, to Henry and Mary Buschor Kaup. On May 1, 1946, he married Mary Margaret Woeste, who survives.

Other survivors are a son, Tom (Kathy), St. Henry; an uncle and aunt, Jack and Caroline Link, who helped raise him after the death of his mother; two sisters-in-law, Mary Kaup, Celina, and Betty Kaup, Coldwater and two grandchildren.

Deceased are two brothers, Urban and Sylvester; two sisters and their husbands, Monica and Gregory Gross and Rita and Robert Borger.

He was founder and owner/operator of S & K Metal Products, Coldwater and Celina, and a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, and the Chickasaw Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during WW II serving as a signalman in four separate invasions of North Africa, Palermo, Normandy and Iwo Jima.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Marvin Borger officiating. Burial is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Coldwater.

Condolences can be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.