Willis H. Ripke

Willis H. Ripke, age 77, of Newell, Iowa died on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice House in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Private Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell. To watch the live stream of the service, please click the link-https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87523488766?pwd=NnJmVHNKRVhiNmVTRmZVS2RrL0VBZz09 and enter the password: funeral. A recording of the service will also be uploaded under Willis' tribute page after the service. Burial will be in the Newell Cemetery. Public visitation will take place on Friday, November 13, 2020 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. Guests who are at an increased risk of COVID-19 are welcomed at the visitation from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Masks are required for anyone in attendance at the services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in Willis' name. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Willis was born January 29, 1943 in Storm Lake, Iowa, the son of Walter and Marie (Hogrefe) Ripke. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed in 1956 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Storm Lake, Iowa. In his youth, Willis attended Zion Lutheran Parochial School for his first through eighth grade education. He attended high school and graduated with the last class from Providence Consolidated School, Sulphur Springs, Iowa in 1960. On December 3, 1961, Willis was united in marriage to Darnell Pedersen at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa. The couple was blessed with five children; Barbara, Bradley, David, Curtis and Karla. Willis was an active and dedicated member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Storm Lake, Iowa and St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa, where he held various offices. Throughout his life, Willis was well known in the carpentry and construction business. He owned and operated Ripke Construction Company since 1977. He had such a passion for his business that he simply never retired. He built many beautiful homes and cherished the friends he made along the way. Willis enjoyed his card club family, playing horseshoe, slow-pitch softball, dartball, polka dancing, and attending and hosting barn dances. He also enjoyed spending time at Cutty’s in Okoboji and traveling to Branson, Missouri, Colorado and Texas. Willis was well known for his BBQ pork loin and his sense of humor that always had people laughing. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of nearly 59 years, Darnell, and his children; Brad (Beth) Ripke of Newell, Iowa, David Ripke of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Curt (Sandy) Ripke of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and Karla (Jack) Vanderhoff of Newell, Iowa; grandchildren; BJ (Rachel) Nieland, Belinda Smith, Jason (Heather) Ripke, Derek (Shawna) Ripke, Sara (Jeremy) Croghan, Courtney Whitmore, Andrea Whitmore, Cara (Brian) Rehm, Rachel Ripke, Nick Ripke, Austin (Andrea) Vanderhoff, Alex (Kayla) Vanderhoff and Paige (Andrew) Pickhinke, great-grandchildren; Ethan, Emmi, and Brookelyn Johnson, Madelyn, Macy and Evelyn Vanderhoff, Tyson, Weston and Decker Ripke, Hayden Fry and Ellie Ripke, Benson, Vivian and Willis Nieland, Cody and Brody Rehm, Hazel and Oakley Vanderhoff, and Brynlee Pickhinke, brothers; Wayne Ripke of Storm Lake, Iowa, Loren (Sue) Ripke of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Clifford (Shirley) Ripke of Hartley, Iowa, sisters; Elaine (Len) Brechler of McAllen, Texas and Marlys (Jim) Martin of Glenwood, Iowa. Willis was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marie Ripke; father and mother-in-law, Herluf and Vivian Pedersen, daughter; Barbara Nieland, maternal grandparents, Charles and Anna Hogrefe, paternal grandparents; Henry and Martha Ripke, brother-in-law, Art McWilliams.

Willis H. Ripke

January 29, 1943 - November 10, 2020