Harold "Rip" W. Rippe

Harold “Rip” Rippe, age 88, of Glenwood, MN, died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at Glacial Ridge Hospital. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 22nd at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glenwood, with Father Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Friday, February 21st at Sacred Heart Church, with Parish Prayers and the Rosary at 7:00 P.M. Visitation will resume on Saturday morning at the church, one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Glenwood. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Harold “Rip” Walter Rippe, the son of Walter and Sylvia (Hydahl) Rippe, was born on May 12, 1931 in Hutchinson, MN and was baptized at Norwegian Lutheran Church in St. James, MN. Harold died suddenly on Sunday, February 9, 2020 with family present. He was raised in Hutchinson, MN. Following graduation from Hutchinson High School, he enrolled in Dunwoody Industrial Institute. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1947, was called to Active Duty for the Korean War in 1950 and discharged in 1951. He then completed his Dunwoody Education as a heating and air-conditioning mechanic and began his four-year apprenticeship in the Twin Cities.  Harold entered the Catholic Church and married Margaret Louise Prieve at St. Stephens’s Catholic Church in Minneapolis on June 23, 1956.  Right after their honeymoon on the North Shore, Marge and Harold began building their new life together in Glenwood, MN where Harold opened Rippe’s Sheet Metal Works and Marge worked at Hubbard Nursing Home until the children started to arrive: Michael, Patty, Steven, Nancy and Timothy.

Harold increased his work, buying other shops in town and one in Starbuck, adding other services such as plumbing, paint, wallpaper, flooring and carpet and he added a new name “Rippe’s Color and Comfort Center”.  He also took up Real Estate purchasing and managing.

Throughout his life, Harold was most active in Civic and Church activities. He was a 25-year member of the Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce Member, Jaycee’s President, President of the Minnewaska Golf Club, PTA President, 60+ year member of the Glenwood Legion Post and 27 year “bass-singing” member of the Pope County Men’s Chorus. As a parishioner of Glenwood Sacred Heart Church, he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus as 3rd and 4th Degree who actively served in choir, hospitality, Befrienders and Stephens Ministries. He also served as an usher until July 2019 and up until his death, he was a Eucharistic Minister. 

Harold’s interests outside of family were duck hunting, golf, fishing, music, dancing, golden retrievers, reading, politics and writing. A father and grandfather, also known as TGO (The Great One), he enjoyed spending time with loved ones at his cabin on Lake Minnewaska. Harold was hard-working, intelligent, loving, fun, dependable, engaged and passionate about the people in his life, with a wonderful sense of humor, insatiable curiosity and drive to learn. He is particularly remembered for his genuine interest in people, uproarious laughter, political discussions, and inner strength after the death of his wife, Marge in 2016. 

Harold is survived by his five children, Michael (Jean) Rippe of Coon Rapids, Patty Bowman (Kirk) of Cascade, MT, Steven Woo-Rippe (Kathy) of Lino Lakes, Nancy Burtchaell (Steve) of Chalmette, LA and Timothy Rippe of Richmond; 13 grandchildren, Christopher (Summer), Jonathan Fernandes (Barbara), Nicholas, Benjamin and Margaret Rippe, Anna and Rachel Bowman, Christian Alston and Conner Woo-Rippe, Patrick and Nicholas Burtchaell and Anders and Sam Rippe; nine great-grandchildren, Nate, Charlotte, Aislinn and Aidan Rippe, Victor and Alice Fernandes, and Odin, Erin and William Rippe; his brothers-in-law, Bill Scherer and George Prieve (Millie,) and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Harold was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Marge; his parents, Walter and Sylvia Rippe, and step-mother, Cordia Rippe; his twin brother, Harry Rippe (and sister-in-law, Jackie); his sister Elaine Scherer; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, George and Marie Prieve.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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