Walter Rippe

Walter was born on November 18, 1924, to George and Bertha Meyer Rippe in rural Rawlins County. He departed peacefully on October 17, 2018, at Rawlins County Hospital.

Walter was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ludell, Kansas.
He attended rural elementary and Atwood High School.

On December 19, 1943, he was united in marriage to Leta Marie Prideaux at Trinity Lutheran Church in Colby, Kansas. They were blessed with 3 children; Janet Marie (Vrbas), Richard John & Twila Faye.

Walter farmed several years with the Farm Deferment program and then was drafted into the U.S. Army on May 11, 1945. Walter served in the military police at the Pentagon and Walter Reed Hospital and as Honor Guard for military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery.

While home on leave, he accepted a job offer from J.A. (Jim) Bowles, and purchased a home for his family. Jim knew of his mechanical abilities from previous experiences and wanted Walter to begin when discharged from the service.

As the war was coming to an end in the first part of 1946 the Army allowed all fathers who had jobs to be discharged from active duty and return home with honorable discharges to work and be with their families. On May 22, 1946, Walter was relieved of duty while at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

In 1967 Walter accepted a position as instructor in the farm and diesel mechanics department of the vo-tech school in Goodland, Kansas. He taught there for 19 years. Walter and Leta returned to Atwood in 1992 to enjoy their retirement years.

One big part of Walter’s life was going to Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church. His faith was his strength and wouldn’t miss a Sunday.

Walter enjoyed going to the Senior Center for lunch as often as he could and also enjoyed taking the shuttle the last couple years of his life.

Walter leaves to mourn, daughter Janet and husband Tom, daughter Twila of Atwood, four grandsons, Tom Vrbas Jr and wife Amber of Willow Park, Texas, Troy Webb and wife Tre of Colby, Kansas, Trevor Webb and wife Lisa of Conifer, CO and Matthew Rippe and wife Liz of Kansas City, Kansas, and two granddaughters, Shelly Lynn and friend Toby Martinez of Atwood, and Jessica Thomas and husband Kevin of Pueblo, CO; fourteen great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Mary Leitner of Atwood and Lorraine Prideaux of Sylmar, California, step-brother Floyd and wife Marlene, step-sisters Marlene and Wanda Jean and husband George Roberts step-sisters-in-law Norma Pfaff , Marlene Wyatt and many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were: wife Leta Marie, son Richard, brothers Ernest & Harold, sisters Esther & Bernice, step-brothers Leland and Kenneth Pfaff, sisters-in-law Leilia Gosney Rippe, Bernita Porter Most, brothers-in-law Eldon Gosney, Bill Wynn, Edwin Prideaux, Gene Leitner, Russell Porter, and Harry Most.

A Memorial Service will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Atwood with inurnment in Fairview cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Atwood Senior Center or God's Little Saints Preschool, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com