January 31, 1949 – October 24, 2025
John Stephen Rope, 76, of Bedford, went home to the Lord on October 24, 2025.
John was born in 1949 and spent his early years on the family farm in Clarinda, Iowa. He moved with his family to San Diego, California, at a young age and graduated from El Capitan High School in 1966.
He served as a sailor in the Navy from 1966 to 1972, on the Destroyer USS Higbee (Vietnam), then as a Seabee, finally separating as a Gunner’s Mate Third Class.
John met his wife, Frances (Kinports) Rope, at Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa, and they married in 1973. He earned a Master’s in business administration and spent the next 40+ years as a Construction Estimator. After retiring as Vice President and head estimator in 2019, he and his wife moved to Bedford, Indiana, in 2020. He enjoyed his remaining years spending time with his grandchildren, volunteering at church, woodworking, camping, and being surrounded by family.
He was predeceased by his parents, Eugene and George Ann, and his brother, Mark.
He is survived by his wife, Frances; daughter, Danielle; son, Joshua (wife, Andrea); grandchildren, Addison and Oliver; brothers, Thomas, Paul, and Matthew; and sisters, Genie and Rachel.
He was very loved by his family and is now rejoicing in heaven with God. His legacy will carry on forever, reminding us to choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service, like Christ modeled for us.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Bedford, with Pastor Grant Sorenson officiating. The service will be streamed live on YouTube for family and friends unable to attend in person —“Calvary Lutheran Bedford”. Burial will follow in the Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford, with a reception following at Calvary Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in John’s memory to Calvary Lutheran Church.
Memories may be shared and condolences sent to www.FergusonLee.com.
The staff of Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes is honored to have been
entrusted with the arrangements for John Stephen Rope.
