Yearbook: St Aloysius Parish - Bishop Creek - 1990
Rosa was known for her hospitality, providing meals for the priests who traveled from Teutopolis to Bishop for Mass and services, and also providing board for the Bishop schoolteachers. Often, people walking home from Sunday Mass would stop off at their home for breakfast and conversation before returning to Church for Sunday afternoon services. John and Rosa celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1946, residing with their sons, William and Albert Repking, who had taken over operation of the family farm.

When the Bishop Church was being reshingled in 1919, someone brought a sample of the new slate shingles to the John Repking home. At the time, Mrs (Rose) Repking was making jelly, so she decided to put one of the shingles under her "jelly pot". The juice and sugar were boiling real hard, when the shingle got too hot and all of a sudden the shingle and pot exploded? Oh, what a mess -- jelly all over.

The bricks for the first Church were made on top of a hill by John Repking's cattle barn. An old walking path went from the old school, northeast through the Church timber and through Repking's timber (presently Jim Niemerg's). The path was about six feet wide and was used by school kids. Repkings had a fence around their timber and the east five acres were cleared off in the 1920's, but since have grown back.

In the early years, children made their First Communion at age seven and their Solemn Communion at age 12. Then it was changed to First and Solemn together. After Herman Brummer, Ben Esker and Henry Probst made their Solemn Communion, they, along with Ben's Sister, Mary, went on their way to Anton Probst's. On their way they had to cross a bridge over Bishop Creek just west of the old Church. Bishop Creek at the time was bank full from heavy rains. As they were crossing the bridge, it gave way and they all fell into the water with their good clothes on. The three boys managed to make it to the bank, but the swift current took Mary down the creek a short distance, until she came to a fence, which the Repkings had through the creek. Mary clung onto the fence while the boys ran to Repkings to get a rope, which they used to help Mary get safely to the bank. (Note: There used to be an old wooden suspension footbridge across the Creek on the path leading to the school. This probably is the location of the bridge mentioned in this story. The bridge was still there, unused, in the late 1940's.)

Ironing in the old days, what a chore! The irons were placed on the wood-burning stove to get hot. When heated, a handle was snapped onto the iron and the clothes ironed as rapidly as possible before the iron became cold.

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Wedding: Teutopolis Press – May 16, 1946

MR. AND MRS. JOHN REPKING

Mr. and Mrs. John Repking had the happiness of celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary at their home at Bishop Creek Sunday, May 12, 1946, surrounded by all of their children and grandchildren besides a large number of other relatives and friends. At 7 A.M. Sunday they attended the High Mass at St Aloysius Catholic Church at Bishop Creek which was sung by the pastor of the parish, Rev. Anthony Wagner, O.F.M. Their entire family was able to attend the Mass in company with them. At the "Offertory" of the Mass, Miss Martha Bierman, a neighbor girl sang the beautiful "Ave Maria". [Note: Martha is the Sister of Louise Bierman, the wife of Ralph Repking]

Breakfast was served at the family home immediately after the Mass to the immediate family members and their families and at 4 o'clock P.M. a dinner was served to a large number of relatives and friends, about one hundred forty being present. A five-tier wedding cake graced the table, each layer representing ten years of married life. The cake was beautifully decorated in gold to harmonize with the other golden decorations.

Mr. and Mrs. Repking received many beautiful and useful gifts in memory of their Golden Anniversary and at the time of departure all wished for the Jubilarians many more years of happiness and contentment. The couple are in excellent health at the present time, Mr. Repking being 78 while his wife is 69 years of age.

"Open House" was held in the afternoon and quite a number of relatives and friends availed themselves of the opportunity of extending congratulations and good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Repking.

John Repking and Miss Rosa Schleper were married May 12, 1896 at Bishop Creek by the Reverend Father Atardus. Witnesses to the ceremony were: Miss Elizabeth Repking, Miss Anna Bussman, Frank Schleper and John Sandschaefer. Mr. Schleper is the only surviving member of the quartette and he and his son Frank, Jr. of Du Quoin, besides Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Beumer of Gary, Ind. attended the celebration as well as the children and grandchildren who reside away from this vicinity. [Note: Bill Beumer worked for their son, Fank Repking, at the Methodist Hospital in Gary, Indiana. He was an electrician and helped Frank wire the Repking farm house for electricity in the early 1940's after electricity was available in the area following the Rural Electrification Act of 1935. Bill was a frequent guest.]

Mr. and Mrs. Repking became the parents of nine children: one son, Anthony passing away at the age of two years. The names of the children, who were all able to be present Sunday, are as follows: Frank Repking of Gary, Ind.; Mrs. Phil (Marie) Niemerg of Chicago; Mrs. Herman (Clara) Habing of Effingham; Mrs. (Elsie) Osthoff of Effingham; Ralph Repking of Chicago; Clarence Repking of Chicago; William and Albert Repking at home. The couple also have twenty-one grandchildren and this is the first time the entire group had the chance of being together during the past sixteen years. The Repking's have resided continually on their farm at Bishop ('reek since their marriage fifty years ago.

This paper joins the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Repking in this community in extending to them the best of wishes for many more years of marital happiness.

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Teutopolis Press - February 5, 1953

Mrs. John Repking Returns, From Hospital

Mrs. John Repking of Bishop returned to her home Wednesday from St Anthony’s Emergency Center where she underwent surgery on Monday. Her son reported that she is getting along fine. Sunday visitors at the Repking home were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Habing and family, Mr and Mrs. Bob Osthoff and family, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Hagen and family. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Hoelscher and family, all of Effingham, Mr and Mrs John Habing and Mr and Mrs Edward Pruemer of Teutopolis, Mr and Mrs. Ralph Repking of Dieterich, Mr. and Mrs Herman Niemerg and Mr and Mrs. John Niemerg of Bishop.

Card of Thanks

I wish to thank all of my kind friends, neighbors, and relatives who took time out to send me cards, and all those who visited me or helped me in any way during my recent illness and stay in the hospital. May god reward all of you.

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Anniversary: Teutopolis Press - May 21, 1953

Mr. and Mrs Repking Observe 57th Wedding anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. John Repking had the pleasure of observing their 57th wedding; anniversary on May 12th. They were the winner of the bouquet of flowers on Anniversary Waltz Time, but had no real celebration for the occasion.

Mr. Repking is 85 and Mrs. Repking is well passed her 76th birthday. Both are very active and still enjoy a good laugh. They were life-long residents of the Bishop community.

John Repking and Miss Rosa Schleper were married May 12, 1896 at Bishop Creek by the Rev Fr Alardus. Witnesses to the ceremony were Miss Elizabeth Repking, Miss Anna Bussman, Frank Schleper and John Sandschafer.

The Repkings became the parents of nine children: one son, Anthony who died at an early age, Frank of Gary, Indiana, Mrs. Phil (Marie) Niemerg and Clarence of Chicago, Mrs. Herman (Clara) Habing and Mrs. Robert (Elsie) Osthoff of Effingham, Ralph of near Dieterich, and Bill and Albert at home. They also have 26 grandchildren. and six great grandchildren.
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This paper joins the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Repking in extending to them the best of wishes for many more years of marital happiness,

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Obituary: Teutopolis Press - June 9, 1966

Rosa Repking Dies At Age 89

Mrs Rosa Repking, 89, oldest resident of the Bishop community died at her home in Bishop, at 3:15 pm Thursday June 2.

Born in Teutopolis, she was the former Rosa Schleper. Her husband, John preceded her in death in 1968. Surviving are sons, William and Albert of Bishop; Ralph Dieterich; Frank, Gary, Ind and Clarence, Chicago; daughters, Mrs Marie Niemerg, Chicago; and Mrs Clara Habing and Mrs Elsie Osthoff, both of Effingham.

Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 am Saturday, at St Aloysius at Bishop, Rev Garcius Behnen officiated. Burial was in the Church Cemetery. Habing funeral home in Teutopolis was in charge.

Pallbearers were Paul Niemerg, Mike Walk, Ambrose Worman, Dan Miller, Eric Repking and Ronald Repking.

Attending the funeral from a distance were Mr. and Mrs Godfrey Schleper, Clem and Tony Schleper of DuQuoin, DuQuoin, Hubert Kruese of Highland, Ervin Kruese of Waterloo, Charles Westendorf, Ronald Repking and Mrs Ellen Lustig of Chicago Heights. Mrs Ruby Alexander, Mr. and Mrs Clarence Repking and family, Mrs Rose Werner, Mr. and Mrs Henry Wienckowski, Mrs Anna Mae Gillespie and daughter Margie and Mr. and Mrs Donald Niemerg and family of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs Mel Sieben and family of Terre Haute, Mr. and Mr. Ted Thies, Frank Repking and daughter Sharon Gary, Indiana, Mr. and Mrs Frank Repking Jr and family Michigan City, Indiana, Marie Niemerg and children Paul and Wilma, Mr. and Mrs Jim Niemerg and family of Rolling Meadows, Du Page, Illinois, USA, Mr. and Mrs Jerry Annino and family of Arlington Heights and Mr. and Dale Tanner of La Grange, Lyons, Cook, Illinois, USA, Henry Weierich and daughter Flora of Breese and Sister Mary Barbara SSND of St Charles MO.

Above bio information from Find a Grave Contributor Ronald J Repking (#48426701)