Robert Simmons Rupe

Robert Simmons Rupe, 72, of Bradenton, FL passed away on June 3, 2026. He was a cherished husband, uncle, church parishioner and will be deeply missed. Born October 21, 1954 to Pete and Mary Ann Rupe (Scanland), Bob was raised in Dearborn, MI along with his 5 siblings, Susan, Lynn, Jeff, Stephen, and Jennifer. As a child, he attended Greenfield Village for elementary school, Dearborn High School and spent summers with his family at Huron Mountain Club in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He attended Michigan State University with his twin, Steve, where he made many life long friends. Bob met the love of his life Diane (McGuff) in 1979 in Birmingham, AL and they have been married for nearly 44 years. Together they sang and played bluegrass in bands (Sunny South Band) while living in Raleigh, NC. He spent many years working in the automotive industry, notably as a finance manager at Jim Moran & Associates. After moving to Florida in 2013, he became an active member at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton, and continued to share his gift of playing mandolin during weekly services. He will be remembered for his wit, storytelling, and zest for life. Services will be held Tuesday, June 16th at 1:00 at Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL.