Ralph Gipper age 94 of Independence and formerly of Fairbank passed away Monday, July 29, 2019 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo. He was born January 13, 1925 in rural Fayette County, Iowa the son of John and Pearl (Beebe) Gipper. Ralph married Edna Gust on January 31, 1946 at the Lutheran Parsonage in Fairbank.
Ralph graduated from Fairbank High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army in 1946. Ralph was a 30 year employee of John Deere in Waterloo retiring in 1982. He was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fairbank where he was a Trustee on the church council for 20 years and was currently a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence.
Ralph loved puttering on things out in his garage or down in the timber. If he didn’t have the tools to complete the job at hand he would make them. He didn’t believe in buying new if you could fix the old. He spent many hours repairing or restoring John Deere Tractors whether they were his or someone else’s. He definitely fit the title “A Jack of all Trades”.
Survived by: two daughters; Mary Ann (Ralph) Blessing of Waterloo and Virginia (Dan) Sweeney of Marysville, WA, one son Ed (Sue) Gipper of Independence, two sisters; Grace Matthews of Charter Oak and Hazel (Lloyd) Hultman of Westgate, one brother, Ivan (Marcella) Gipper of Waterloo, eight grandchildren along with many great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by: his parents, his wife, one son; John Gipper, one sister, Emma Pettit, three brothers; Albert, Leonard and Lloyd and one grandson in infancy.
Memorial Services: 11:00 am Wednesday July 31, 2019 at Woods Funeral Home.
Visitation: 9:00-11:00 am Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at Woods Funeral Home.
Interment: Fairbank Cemetery
Memorials: to the family or Cedar Valley Hospice.
Condolences for Ralph Leroy Gipper
Ed and all, I am so saddened to hear the news. I really had hoped to have had a chance to visit when I was back for mom’s party. Time just flat ran out. Our deepest sympathy to all in the family.
What a wonderful friend we had in Ralph. We cherish special neighborhood memories and lots of fun shared. We are so grateful! May God bless you all .💖
so sorry to hear this. Ed was a wonderful man and so devoted to his wife when we had her at Lexington. I had missed him just thought I hadn’t been there the right time. you have my sympathy and I will be working so won’t be able to make the visitation or funeral.
Gip was great to work with at Deere. He was always willing to help anybody in need and had a positive personality. He will be missed by his old friends.
Mary Ann and Ralph…Dennis and I were so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss. Your uncle Albert and Daisy were my neighbors on Steely St. when I was growing up. We live in the house on Steely St. now. They were wonderful people.
Blessings.