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Petar Kupina Obituary
PETAR JOSIP KUPINA
Petar J. Kupina, the son of Josip and Ljubica Kupina, was born on November 27, 1930 in the small Croatian village of Toplice, near the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. He had a brother Stjepan, and sister Alojzija. Petar passed away on June 16th at his beloved ranch in Kerman at the age of 85.
At the age of 22, he married Biserka (Pearl) Borosic and moved to the nearby village of Volavje. In the late 1950’s, Petar escaped the former communist Yugoslavia across the Austrian Alps by foot in search of a better life. He spent some time in a camp in Austria and then migrated to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with only a small suitcase. After a few years, he saved enough money to fly his family from Croatia to Canada. For a period of time he worked in a gold mine and later in a steel mill. During this time, Petar also began farming a variety of fruit orchards and vineyards. As an always driven and hardworking individual, he fulfilled his childhood dream of owning a vineyard in 1974 when he moved his family from Canada to Kerman, California.
Petar was a proud Croatian and a multi-talented businessman, agriculturalist, environmentalist and beekeeper. He loved life. He ever so loved his vineyard, making and drinking wine, and tending to his cherished beehives. He was an excellent winemaker and considered himself “the doctor of wine”. There wasn’t a person he met who wasn’t invited to his house to enjoy a glass (or two, or three) of his homemade wine. He loved politics and was a history enthusiast. He was a first-class marksman and negotiator who loved to hunt and fish. Petar had a contagious smile and laugh, a true fighter ‘till the end.
He is survived by son Steve, wife Mary and grandchildren Danielle (Edson), Marina (Nick), Anthony; and daughter Rosemary, husband Zvonimir and grandchildren Petar and Katrina.
A Visitation and Rosary was held at Smith Manor Grace Chapel in Madera on Thursday, June 23 from 5 – 8 p.m. Mass was held on Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Kerman, followed by entombment at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, Madera.
Branko and Ankica Pojatina
July 19, 2016
Dear Kupina and Repar families,
our sincere condolences on the loss of your father, grandfather and father in law. Pero will always remain in our memories especially the time spent with him on the his farm when we lived in America. Our children Stephanie, Daniella and Adriana quite often mention those days.
Rest in peace, dear Pero!
Branko Pojatina with family
Steven Kupina
July 1, 2016
My dear uncle Petar was proud, strong and welcoming. I always remember that contagious grin of his.
In Canada, we were neighbors and I would often visit my cousins. We would all watch Petar's favorite television shows like Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, Westerns like Bonanza and Gunsmoke, and movies that featured his favorite actor, John Wayne.
I grew much closer to my uncle Petar and my cousins after I started working on the fruit farms that he operated in Canada. Petar was hardworking and industrious, often working the night shift at the steel mill, and then coming to work on the fruit farm during the day. As well, he would try to do some hunting on the farm with his favorite dogs, Lucky and Lola. During the summer months we would be working on the farms, coming home to Petar's house late in the evening, and then early in the morning, my cousin Steve and I, or sometimes Petar and I, would take the picked produce to wholesale markets. Petar would always drive behind a larger truck in order to reduce the wind resistance and improve his gas mileage. That was just one of the tips I learned from him amongst his many interesting life stories he shared with me. I fondly remember that as a token of his appreciation for helping on the farm, he gave me a deer skin leather jacket that I wore so proudly.
Probably the greatest legacy one can leave this world is the best part of themselves. My uncle Petar has done a masterful job of this through his wonderful children Steve and Rosemary, and his grandchildren. I extend my heartfelt condolences to my special cousins Steve and Rosemary, and their entire families.
Uncle Petar, say hello to your brother- my dear father. Now you can again raise a toast together with some fine Croatian and California wines.
Dragi moj stric Pero, pocivaj u miru i neka te Bog blagoslovi.
Jeannie Stapleton
June 30, 2016
To Steve and the Kupina family, I am so sorry to hear of your dad's passing. You are in our prayers. Rob and Jeannie Stapleton
June 29, 2016
Sretan Imendan Tata. Now you can celebrate your Name Day with Saint Peter in heaven. You are missed.
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With daughter Rosemary
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Tasting his wine Kupina No. 4
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Proud of his grapes
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Checking on his grapes
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
With grandchildren Petar and Katrina
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
With brother Stjepan
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Hunting in Canada
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
With the family in Canada, early '60-ties
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
At the wedding in Croatia, mid '50-ties
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
At the wedding in Croatia, early '50-ties
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Zvonimir Repar
June 28, 2016
Every time a person is born the World changes and every time a person dies the World changes again. The World changed, it became richer, when Petar was born on November 27, 1930 in the small village of Toplice in a far-away country of Croatia. It changed again when he died on June 16th at his Kupina Ranch in Kerman. And it will never be the same!
I had an unique opportunity to learn about Petar's life 13 years ago when he asked me to help him buy an used generator in San Diego area. It took us 3 days to accomplish that and most of the time I was driving and he was talking. He loved to talk and tell stories.
During WW2 he was just a young boy but he experienced repression of the communist regime after the war when his father was prosecuted because of his beliefs in Independent Croatia. He had to serve 3 years of mandatory service in the former Yugoslavian army where again he experienced the communist repression because of the family reputation.
When he returned from army he married and started the family. He had this dream about owning a vineyard in California and couple of years later he decided to escape from then communist Yugoslavia.
My aunt sent me an email few days ago telling me that she witnessed the conversation between her father and Petar just before his escape. She was 7 years old at the time. She said how she sensed certain fear and sadness in their voices, but also Petar's hope and determination to seek a better life for his family.
After the scary escape over the border in the middle of night and 6 months in the Austrian camp, he made it to Canada. Working hard day and night he saved enough to bring his young family to join him.
But that dream about the vineyard in California was still alive and he fulfilled it in 1973 when he moved his family to Kerman.
It took a lot of courage and self-confidence to do what he did; to leave his young family and everything he knew and to go into unknown. But he was a courageous and strong man all his life. The fact that the biggest picture in his house is a wood-carved portrait of John Wayne tells you a lot about his character, values and determination.
When he immigrated he didn't ask or look for handouts and free stuff. He looked for the opportunities where he could apply his multiple talents. Immigrants like him made this country great.
He was always willing to help and everybody was invited into his house. And not only he would host you while you were there, he would always give you wine, grapes and fruit to take home with you.
He was especially proud of his winemaking skill and his Kupina No. 4 red wine. He brought the stock from Croatia and planted it in his vineyard. We will actually have a honor of enjoying this wine today celebrating his life at the lunch after the funeral.
His multiple talents were reflected through his multiple businesses and hobbies; farming, rental, car imports, winemaking, meat curing, hunting, fishing, gardening and beekeeping.
He was a true environmentalist all his life. He used to tear a napkin in half and save the other half for later. Once he did that in our house and put the other half into his pocket for later telling me, "You should do the same, save the other half for later". I responded, "I would, but you just took it". We had a long laugh after that.
He loved to laugh and he loved the life. He was a true fighter all his life, until the very end. The day after he came home from a 5-week hospital treatment he drove his little Kawasaki vehicle around the ranch to make sure everything is OK and in order. The next morning his big heart stopped working...
And what to say at the end?
To him; we will miss you but you will always be in our hearts...
And to you; keep and cherish the memories of the good times spent with him...
Because, the World will never be the same without him...
Michael Suntic
June 23, 2016
Met you Peter once and that was enough never to forget you. What a loss!
God bless you Pero. Neka ti je laka zemlja gospodine, prijatelju.
My condolences, sucut dear Steve, Rosemary, Zvonac and the rest of the family.
Michael Suntic
June 23, 2016
Met you Peter once and that was enough never to forget you. What a loss!
God bless you Pero. Neka ti je laka zemlja gospodine, prijatelju.
My condolences, sucut dear Steve, Rosemary, Zvonac and the rest of the family.
Michael Suntic
June 23, 2016
Met you Peter once and that was enough never to forget you. What a loss!
God bless you Pero. Neka ti je laka zemlja gospodine, prijatelju.
My condolences, sucut dear Steve, Rosemary, Zvonac and the rest of the family.
Michael Suntic
June 23, 2016
Met you Peter once and that was enough never to forget you. What a loss!
God bless you Pero. Neka ti je laka zemlja gospodine, prijatelju.
My condolences, sucut dear Steve, Rosemary, Zvonac and the rest of the family.
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