Richard Eugene Haupt (86) - On Monday, July 20, 2020, Richard “Dick” Haupt, Sr., a lifelong resident of Madera, started his final fishing trip at the age of 86. Dick was a first-generation American born on October 14, 1933, in Fresno, California. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Dixieland in Madera.
He spent his high school years in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and graduated from Madera High School in 1952. After graduation, Dick was drafted into the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for two years during the Korean War. Upon returning in 1954, Dick worked at Western Electric for the next two years and married his first wife, Betty Lou (Vieira) Haupt in 1959.
The next 20 years were spent working for Peart’s Auto Supply followed by several years where he worked for Frank’s Auto Repair, taught Auto Mechanics and Welding under Dino Petrucci, and started grain harvesting with Pete Borger. Dick and Betty Lou purchased their ranch in 1962 where they began with steers and eventually planted almond trees. The two of them loved to travel and Dick often joked about how they “snuck something back across the Mexico border” which was their unborn son Rich.
Dick had a passion for sports and fishing. He and his second wife, Dudy, spent many hours fishing at Shaver or enjoying Fresno State games as season ticket holders. His mechanical skills came in handy each time his sister Gay dropped the transmission during her drag racing years or he had to talk his daughter through an engine repair over the phone from 6 hours away. The last 35+ years, Dick spent fishing, farming, and harvesting nuts with his son until retirement.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFA), a lifelong member of the Madera Elk’s Lodge, and briefly served on the FFA Board for Madera South High School where he pushed to have the farm and shop built.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Gottlieb and Katherine Haupt, his first wife, Betty Lou Haupt (24 years), and his second wife, Dudy Lue Haupt (22 years).
He is survived by his best friend and companion, Bea Imrie, and family; son Rich Haupt and his wife Aprile and their children, Eddy and Zeus; daughter Jeanie; sister Gay Becker and her daughters Trish Payton, Debby Irby, Cindy Bland, Jerri Becker and Terri Becker-Denney and Jerri Becker; sister Darlene Emery and her children Bill Emery and Leann Emery; sister Anita Kiggens and her husband Neal Kiggens and their daughters Celeste Wilcox and Yvonne Fisher as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
Private services were held on July 27. A Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.