Joe Sam Iupe Sr.

Joseph Sam Iupe, Sr., 86, died November 26, 2010 at his home in Canton. The funeral mass of Resurrection will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. Monday with Father Kevin Slattery officiating the Mass. Burial will be in the Canton Cemetery with Breeland Funeral Home handling the arrangements.
Mr. Iupe, affectionately known by his grandchildren as "Big Daddy" and friends as "Big Joe", was born on August 11, 1924 in Jackson MS. He was a 1942 graduate of Central High School in Jackson and attended Miss. State University where he began a life-long relationship with the University. He was a veteran of World War II where he served in the U.S. Army for three years. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he moved to Canton in 1946 to manage Thomas Bargain Store for the S.N. Thomas family.
Mr. Iupe married the former Jeane Abide of Greenwood in 1955 and later bought what eventually became known as Iupe's - one of the premier clothing stores in Mississippi. His career in Canton spanned 50 years and throughout this time he was extensively involved in church, community and family activities. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was a member of the Parish Council. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. During his early years in Canton he was a member of the Canton Touchdown Club serving as secretary and president, Canton Lions Club and later became member of the Canton Rotary Club where he served as President and was a Paul Harris Fellow. In 1975, he served as President of the Canton/Madison County Chamber and was recognized as Outstanding Man of the Year. As president, he was a driving force in the development of the Canton Vo-Tech Center. In 1980, he was the first recipient of the Ambassador Award presented by the National Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa in recognition of his efforts to increase PTK's presence in Mississippi. In 2003, he received the Senior Excellence Award from the Jackson Touchdown Club. In 2008, the Canton Elks Club honored him with a life-time membership. He was also a life-time member of the Catholic Foundation.
He was a founding member of the Mississippi Retail Merchants Association and later served as president. He chaired various fundraising efforts for charities throughout Central Mississippi. He was a former president or fundraising chairman of numerous organizations.
In addition to family and Church, golf and Mississippi State University activities were two of his passions. As an avid MSU supporter and fan he was a recipient of a Distinguished Service Award by the MSU Alumni Association and was the 1993 Central Mississippi Chapter of MSU Alumnus of the Year. He was a member of the Bulldog Club and served on the MSU Development Foundation Board of Directors. He also had the distinction and honor of representing MSU on the Inter-Alumni Council/IHL and was a member of the Presidents Club. He was a longtime member of the Canton Country Club where he developed a special interest in the development of the golf program for youth.
Mr. Iupe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeane Abide Iupe and their children and grandchildren. Sons: Joe Iupe, Jr. and his wife Sheri and their children, Rachel, Joseph and Andrew; Bill Iupe and his wife Terri and their daughters: Maggie, Lauren and Claire. Daughters: Beth Lucas and her husband Perry and their children John and Elizabeth; and daughters Linda Iupe and Pat Iupe. He is also survived by his brother Lawrence Iupe, his sister-in-law Marlene Iupe and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother Charlie Iupe and sister Marie Iupe.
The family gratefully acknowledges the caring doctors, nurses and care-takers that cared for him through-out his life and illness and also the staff of Odyssey Health Care, AMR and Sacred Heart Catholic Church for their concern and support.
Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church (238 E. Center St. Canton, MS 39046), MSU Bulldog Club (P.O. Box BT, MSU, MS 39762); or the Mississippi Alzheimer's Association (196 Charmant Dr., Suite 4, Ridgeland, MS 39157).