Mary Lou Ripberger
Mary Lou Ripberger, age 81, formerly of Tipton and Kokomo, died at 9:18 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at her daughter’s residence. She was born on December 14, 1935 in Peru to Henry E. & Esther L. (Wahlig) Thoennes. Mary Lou and Richard Carl Ripberger were married on November 22, 1956 in Peru and they shared 51 years of marriage until Rich’s passing on November 29, 2007.
She was an RN and full-time mom. Mary Lou was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo where she was very active. Her church activities included helping with funeral dinners, teaching CCD, driving a school bus, singing in a church group, serving as a Eucharistic minister and leading a bible study. Mary Lou was an associate member of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Tipton and belonged to the Third Order of Franciscans. She was also active in various ecumenical groups throughout the years.
Mary Lou graduated from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Indianapolis in 1956. She was a member of Psi Iota Xi Sorority. She loved playing Euchre and Bridge, attending community concerts and going to Beef & Boards. She truly enjoyed her home in Siesta Key, Florida and spent many retirement years there where she was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Church.
Mary Lou is survived by three daughters and one son, Michele Renee Reishus and husband Neal, Kokomo, Kimberly Ann Fletcher and husband Tom, Monticello, Dean Francis Ripberger and wife Bonnie, Tipton and Julie Anne Wehrli and husband Mark, Carmel. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Renee Ripberger, Kokomo; one sister, Betty Ann McBride, Noblesville; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband Rich, one son, Richard Carl Ripberger II and one sister, Jane Ellen Hammond.
A funeral Mass for Mary Lou will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 27 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Kokomo with Fr. Patrick Keith Hosey presiding. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Tipton. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday and from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Friday, all at the church. The rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton is in charge of the arrangements. Memorial contributions in Mary Lou’s honor may be made to St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3155 South County Road 200 West, Kokomo, Indiana, 46902.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. When the one you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Mary Lou will be sorely missed. Penny Pennella
So very sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I will always remember Mary Lou and your Dad Rich, with great fondness and respect. May her soul rest in peace.
To the entire Ripberger clan:
Our deepest and heartfelt ❤️Condolences.
Our love for your mom and dad was deep as well! We will honor their memories by the laughter in our hearts from the things we were so privileged to be a part of with your family things throughout the years! We know they are rejoicing in heaven all together again with Jesus Christ who they had such a deep and abiding faith for. May you all find peace and comfort in knowing they are rejoicing once again free of pain and suffering!
Love to each of you!
I was truly honored to know Mary Lou. Her fiery spirit, beautiful smile, quick laugh as well her deep love for family, friends and her faith was exemplery of a life well lived. I will miss her and I’m so happy I was able to get to know the entire family through her. I wish the family peace and healing during this time and in the days ahead.
Dear Family of Mary Lou,
We have been praying with you during Mary Lou’s long illness and though we are deeply saddened by her death, we rejoice with her as she meets her Lord and dear husband Rich in heaven. It has been a blessing to have known Mary Lou over so many years as an Associate Member and dear friend of the Tipton Sisters of St Joseph. She will remain in our heart memories as we hold each of you in our prayers. We will all be with you in spirit as you celebrate her life. God’s blessing on each and all, Your Sisters from Tipton who now live at Nazareth, MI.
What can I say? Mary Lou was BEAUTIFUL-inside and out. I will miss her never ending smile and upbeat spirit…I miss her. She ask me to pray for her awhile back..I will continue to do so and ask her to pray for all of us.
Love her and her beautiful family!
I sorry about your loss. I sorry was not at the funeral.
May Lou and Rick were wonderful friends and we spent many memorable times together during our early years at
Kokomo when we were connected with Contintenta Stee. Rick introduced me to Bob and Maye Lou and I, being nurses, had much in common. So sorry for your loss as it is ours also.
I