Dennis Ripperger

Dennis J. Ripperger, 71, of Afton died at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines from an injury resulting from a fall. A celebration of life service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Afton. Fr. Adam Westphal will celebrate the Mass. Service will be livestreamed through the Powers Funeral Home Facebook page. Social distancing and masks will be encouraged. Family asks that you come to either the visitation or the Mass, because of space limitations due to Covid-19.

Burial will be in St. Edward’s Catholic cemetery west of Afton. Military graveside rites will be given by Creston VFW No. 1797. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020, at Powers Funeral Home in Afton, with family receiving friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Rosary begins at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Edward’s Catholic Church or the Muscle Mat Club at East Union. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Dennis Joseph Ripperger, son of Marvin Joseph Ripperger and Margaret Henrietta (Mullica) Ripperger, was born July 28, 1949, in Creston. He graduated from East Union High School in 1967. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1971.

On Sept. 20, 1969, Dennis married Retta Marie Griffin in Grand River. With Dennis being in the military, they lived for a time in Coronado, California and Bremerton, Washington. After Dennis’ military service, they lived in the Afton area.

In 1973, they lived and farmed in Grand River until moving to Dennis’ family farm in 1978, north of Afton. In 1990, they moved to an acreage further north of Afton. Dennis started working with the U.S. Postal Service on a rural mail route in 1980 until his retirement in 2017.

Dennis was a lifelong member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, helping with the parish council, Knights of Columbus and various other church ministries. He was also involved with the Afton Lions Club and East Union High School events, helping run time clocks.

Survivors include his wife, Retta Ripperger of Afton; six children: David (Carrie O’Connor) Ripperger of Dubuque, Dannel (Shelby) Ripperger of Lorimor, Dwain Ripperger of Murray, Nickolas (Myklyn) Ripperger of Lorimor, Dennetta (Andrew) Groomes of Des Moines and Nathan (Christine) Ripperger of Dubuque; 23 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters: Carolyn Hubatka of Afton and Barbara (Scott) Mathews of Fallon, Nevada; three brothers: Michael (Karen Sue) Ripperger of Creston, Mark (Penny) Ripperger of Thayer and Timothy Ripperger of Glenwood; brother-in-law, Don Keimig of Virginia and many other family members and friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Marla Diana and Beverly; in-laws, L. LeRoy and Ruth Griffin; grandson Memphis Ripperger.