Norman Henry Rippe, 85, passed away Monday, July 29, 2019 at Smith Center Health and Rehab.
Norman was born May 1, 1934 in Lanham, KS, the son of Henry F. and Malinda (Maatsch) Rippe. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lanham, KS on May 27, 1934 and confirmed his faith in Christ on March 21, 1948. He was a graduate of Odell High School, Odell, NE, graduating in 1951. On May 8, 1960 he married Darlene Ruth Dierking in Herkimer, KS, to this union they were blessed with four children, Warren, Doug, Sharyl and Kevin. Norman was a United States Army Veteran serving from February 6, 1957 to January 1, 1959 when he was honorably discharged. Norman had been a manager at Firestone Tire & Rubber for 25 years until retiring in 1985. After retirement he worked for Hardware Hank for several years. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center. KS. Norman was a loving husband grandfather and great grandfather and will be missed tremendously by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Lawrence and Wilmer Rippe and a sister Roine Tegethoff.
Norman is survived by his wife Darlene Rippe of Smith Center, KS; three sons, Warren Rippe of Smith Center, KS, Doug (Sue) Rippe of Osborne, Kevin (Melissa) Rippe of Cedar Rapids, IA; a daughter Sharyl Billinger of Smith Center, KS; two sisters Janice Walley of Newton, KS, Laura (Darrell) Allerheiligen of Waverly, NE; brother-in-law Forrest Tegethoff of Washington, KS; thirteen grandchildren, Andrew (Tracey) Frank of Becker, MN, Jeni (Sean) Sloan of Topeka, KS, Jodi (Toby) Boyle of Smith Center, KS, Adam (Bethany) Frank of Castle Rock, CO, Jesse (Natasha) Mudd of Beloit, KS, Taylor (Jamie) Rippe of Osborne, KS, Sabrina Billinger of Kansas City, MO, Trace Billinger of Smith Center, KS, Brennen Rippe, Jacob Rippe, Bailee Rippe and Joshua Rippe all of Cedar Rapids, IA, Charlotte Byberg – exchange student of Stavanger, Norway and sixteen great grandchildren, Madalyn Frank, Garin and Cooper Sloan, Camden, Callen and Coy Barta, Larame and Sydney Boyle, Brell, Brenik, and Brexli Spiess, Natessa, Jaxtyn, Jaytyn Mudd and twin boys arriving in December 2019 and Haegan and Haecie Rippe.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 3, 2019 at American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Lorna Paulus officiating. There will not be a public visitation, the casket will remain closed. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, KS. Memorials may be given to Norman H. Rippe Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS 66967.