Marijean Rupp Kayler, 78, Of Marietta

Obituary provided by H.M. Patterson & Son

MARIETTA, GA — Marijean Rupp Kayler, of Marietta and formerly of Dunwoody, died peacefully January 13, 2018.

Marijean was born in Chicago, IL on March 12, 1939 and was the daughter of the late Charles Irving
Rupp and Laurene Marie Minor Rupp. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Clark Kayler,
Jr., her sister Cheryl Rupp Serio and her brother Robert Rupp.

She is survived by her sons, Donald C. Kayler III (Laurie), Thomas C. Kayler, Kevin M. Kayler (Stephanie); Grandchildren, Chase Kayler, Matthew Kayler, Michael Kayler, Melody Kayler Montgomery, Mackenzie Kayler, Carlisle Kayler, Sydney Kayler, and many friends and extended family who loved her dearly. Marijean attended St. Mary’s School outside of Chicago and loved the subjects of Art and Music. Her father, Charles I. Rupp, was an accomplished organist and taught his daughter, passing on this wonderful talent to Marijean.

She won the title of Miss West Chicago and was st runner up in the Miss Illinois pageant in 1958. Shortly
thereafter, she met the love of her life, Donald C. Kayler Jr. while modeling for Rose Marie Reid. They
courted and were married June 13, 1959 in Chicago. During their early years of marriage, Marijean and
Don played organ and piano back to back, for a music store, to “demo” those instruments for future
sales.

Don took a job with Bobbie Brooks in 1961 and he and Marijean moved to Overland Park, KSwhere they started their family. Marijean, a devout Roman Catholic, loved the Lord and soon found a place to serve Him at Cure of Ars Catholic Church as their Organist at Sunday morning Mass.

In 1974, Marijean moved to Dunwoody, GA as Don accepted a promotion with Jantzen Sportswear. In 1977, she found a home to serve the Lord for more than 20 years, as the Music Minister at All Saints Catholic Church, helping to build that church from the ground up.

She was responsible for the selection of Liturgical music for Masses, Weddings, Funerals, played organ for the adult choir, and lead a folk group known as the “Schola Cantorum”. Marijean also brought the Gospel to young women at the Christendom Home for Women through her music.

At home, she balanced the life of being a wife and the Mother of three boys, shuffling them to church, school, music lessons, and all their sporting events, often on 3 different teams. Marijean will always be remembered as a loving and fun-filled woman dedicated to her Faith, Family, Friends and her husband of 58 years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Pastoral Care at the Catholic Church of St. Ann. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family Sunday from six until eight o’clock in the evening where the Rosary will be recited at half past seven o’clock at H. M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, 404-851- 9900. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, the 22nd of January at eleven o’clock at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, 4905 Roswell Road, Marietta. The rite of committal will follow at Arlington Memorial Park.

Obituary and photo courtesy H.M. Patterson & Son