Capt. Robert M. Lumpp (91) of Effingham and of Riviera Beach, FL

Capt. Robert M. Lumpp, 91, of Effingham, Illinois, and Riviera Beach, Florida, died Sunday, April 30, 2023 at HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield. 

Celebration of Life Services will be held at Episcopal Church of the Advent in Palm City, Florida at a later date, with his remains to be inurned in the Columbarium there.

He was born in Mattoon, Illinois on August 18, 1931 to Dr. Herman C. and Dorothy M. Lumpp, now deceased. He graduated from Mattoon High School and attended DePauw University and the University of Illinois. He served in the U.S. Army.

Lumpp began his broadcast career at age 15 at WLBH in Mattoon. He worked in radio and television, commercial art and advertising until he was 40 when he changed courses and switched to passenger vessels.

His flagship operation was the Mark Twain riverboat in Hannibal, Missouri. He had riverboats in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee; Jeffersonville, Indiana; Mobile, Alabama; Tunica, Mississippi and North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was Past President of the Passenger Vessel Association where he also served on various committees. PVA inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2018. The captain was a member of the United States Coast Guard Navigation and Safety Committee. Lumpp was also active on various tourism promotion boards.

After retirement, he expanded his love for fine art and painted large landscapes and his special renderings of Old Glory. His paintings are in galleries in Illinois, Missouri, and Florida.

He was a member of the Effingham Noon Rotary Club, Effingham Art Guild, Trinity Episcopal Church in Mattoon and The Episcopal Church of the Advent in Palm City, Florida.

He was married for forty-eight years to Sarah Margaret Lumpp of Champaign, Illinois until her death in 2013.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene K. Lumpp of Effingham and Riviera Beach, Florida and his brother Dr. James A. Lumpp of Oxford, Mississippi.