RUPP Funeral Home

Mahalak, a former auto worker who became a successful auto dealer in Monroe and then central Florida, died Tuesday in St. Francis Hospital, Greenville, S.C. He was 77. -- MahalakEnlargeHe had diabetes and kidney failure, said his son Ralph, Jr., co-owner of what is now Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Superstore. The elder Mr. Mahalak and his wife, Jane, moved in January to Greenville to be near their daughter, Monica. They lived the previous 30 years at Lighthouse Point, Fla. The family’s four Florida auto dealerships began with one he started in 1991, Dodge of Winter Haven.Mr. Mahalak in 1966 started a Dodge dealership on Front Street in Monroe. He moved the business in 1974 to its current location on Monroe Street, site of a Chrysler Corp.-owned Chrysler-Plymouth dealership.He took on those brands and later added Jeep, Eagle, and Ram vehicles.He guided the business through the early 1970s’ gasoline price surge; 22 percent interest rates in the late 1970s, and then uncertainty as Chrysler sought federal loan guarantees.“Obviously he was tough,” said his son, who joined the business in 1987. “How he survived during those times is beyond me. He was able to sell enough in good times to stay in business through the tough times.“He was only a high school graduate, but he did have a great mind for numbers, no doubt about that, and he respected the dollar,” his son said.Mr. Mahalak was born Feb. 14, 1940, to Eva and Ralph Mahalak and grew up in Wyandotte, Mich., a downriver Detroit suburb. He was a graduate of St. Patrick High School in Wyandotte.“He did a bunch of jobs. He hung bumpers at a Chevy plant in California and figured out that wasn’t his bag,” his son said.Mr. Mahalak landed a sales job at Dick Genthe Chevrolet in Southgate, Mich. In the early 1960s, with $5,000 borrowed from his father, he bought 10 cars for $500 each, reconditioned them, and sold them from a small lot in Ecorse, Mich.“On the day I was born, he sold three cars,” his son said. Mr. Mahalak told prospects, “‘My wife is about to have a baby. We have to do this qui...

Late NoticesDavid A. BrackenDavid Alan Bracken, 53, of St. Joseph, passed away March 8, 2017.Arrangements are pending at the Rupp Funeral Home.Cheryl A. BradfordMAYSVILLE, Mo. Cheryl Ann Bradford, 60, Maysville, passed away on March 9, 2017.Services are pending at Poland-Thompson Funeral Home, Cameron, Missouri.Annette E. DrakeEASTON, Mo. Annette Elizabeth Neff Drake, 51, of Easton, died unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday, March 8, 2017.A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 18, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel.The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. The family will then gather with friends later that evening.Robert H. GentryGALLATIN, Mo. Robert H. (Bob) Gentry, 72, of Gallatin, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at the North Kansas City Hospital.Arrangements are pending at McWilliams Funeral Home in Gallatin.Online condolences may be left at www.mcwilliamsfuneralhomes.com.Marilyn F. RenoCLARINDA, Iowa Marilyn F. Reno, 95, Clarinda, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at Westridge Quality Care, Clarinda.Farewell Services are pending Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.#ndn-video-player-3.ndn_embedded .ndn_floatContainer { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }...

Virginia L Spillman, 94, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, in a Saint Joseph health care center.She was born August 12, 1922, in Troy, Kansas, daughter of the late Malinda and Louis Martin.She graduated from Benton High School class of 1940. She was a Homemaker, who was always a good dresser, and loved to dance and spend time with her family. She was a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints.Virginia was preceded in death by: her parents; husband, Harley Spillman; two brothers, Louis and Howard Martin; and a grandson, Wes Nigh.Survivors include; four daughters, Diane L. Wright, Harlene (James) Pankau, Connie (Dick) Smothers, and Shirley Melton (Larry Herring), all of St. Joseph; seven grandchildren, twelve great- grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren.Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at Rupp Funeral Home, with Elder Sam Church officiating.The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Rupp Funeral Home.The Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery.Memorials are requested to the Compassus Care Hospice.Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.#ndn-video-player-3.ndn_embedded .ndn_floatContainer { margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 20px; }...