Vegetable Seed Visionary Passes Away at 75

Posted by Growing Produce Staff|November 5, 2019

Roger Rupp, a name synonymous with the commercial vegetable seed industry, has passed away. The longtime leader of Wauseon, OH-based Rupp Seeds was 75.

Roger Rupp

A portion of his obituary reads as follows: He grew up and then raised his family on the family farm. As the youngest of seven siblings, Roger had the opportunity to grow up along with the seed business his father started. His independent spirit and keen interest in seeds naturally led him to become involved in the business and he became a partner in 1972.

With his entrepreneurial drive and interest in plant breeding and research, Roger led the company to develop a line of Rupp-brand corn and soybean varieties, to expand into offering a full line of vegetable seeds to commercial growers, and most recently to starting a breeding program for pumpkins and squash.

Rupp, who was a lifelong resident of the Pettisville, OH, area, is survived by his wife Peggy Nafziger, four children, and nine grandchildren.