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Johann Ripke was born in Matterson, Germany. He came at age 17 to the US with his parents and sisters in 1862. He lived first in WI. He marries his first wife, Marie Scharff in Centerville, Manitowoc, WI, 18 November 1869. He moves his family to Iowa in the 1870s. His first wife dies giving birth to their fourth child, a son, William Henry Ripke, in 1880. William Henry is the only child of this first marriage to live beyond childhood. John Ripke re-marries in 1882 and has 3 more children. He is a blacksmith most of his life, but...
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Johann Ripke was born in Matterson, Germany. He came at age 17 to the US with his parents and sisters in 1862. He lived first in WI. He marries his first wife, Marie Scharff in Centerville, Manitowoc, WI, 18 November 1869. He moves his family to Iowa in the 1870s. His first wife dies giving birth to their fourth child, a son, William Henry Ripke, in 1880. William Henry is the only child of this first marriage to live beyond childhood. John Ripke re-marries in 1882 and has 3 more children. He is a blacksmith most of his life, but in later years runs the Cottage Hotel in Aurora, IA with his second wife, Mary Hinz Ripke. He was a founding member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aurora.
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AURORA--Johann Frederick Ripke, the son of Hans Karl Ripke, and wife Marie, nee Peters, first saw the light ofthis world in Matersen, Mecklenberg, Schiverin (sic), Germany, June 5, 1845. In accordance with Lutheran custom , his devout parents brought him to baptism soon after birth. His early training and education were those common to his time and class. At the age of 14, after due instruction in the faith of his fathers, he was comfirmed.
When 17, he emigrated to America with his parents and two sisters, locating in Manitowoc, Wis. Mr. Ripke's first occupation was farming. After two years experience in this field he chose to become a Blacksmith.
In 1869 he married in Brandon, Wis., to Marie Scharff. Four children, three sons and a daughter, were born to this union, of whom only one son, William of Minneapolis, survives. In the year of their marriage, they migrated to Buffalo Grove, Iowa, then situated three miles from the present site of Aurora, where he maintained a blacksmith shop. In 1880 he was made to taste life's bitterest sorrow in the death of his wife and helpmate. In 1882 he found a loyal companion in Mary Hintz, to whom were born Charles, Edward and Hazel. In 1887 Mr. Ripke moved his buildings to Aurora since which time he and his wife conducted a hitel and boarding house. Since his time in Aurora he was intimately connected with the Lutheran church. Hew is the last charter member. For seventeen years he served as secretary and caretaker. He retired from active service in 1916. For some time Mr. Ripke had been suffering from an asthmatic condition, which together with his ripe old age, caused his death. Peacefully he retired from this life when the messenger of death called him to his eternal home May 25th at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 20 days.
He leaves to mourn his demise his wife, sons, William of St. Paul, Charles and Edward, of Aurora, three grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews, besides a host of frienda. Funeral services were held in St. Paul's Lutheran church at Aurora Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Internment was made at the Madison cemetery, Rev. Fred Lutz, officiating.
Out of town relatives and friends attending his funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Will Gundlach, Scott and Willard of Oelwein, Mr. and Mrs. Will Warren and Miss Millie Spensely of Fayette, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schultz of Lamont, Reuben Taylor and Pearl of Oelwein.
(Obit in the Independence Conservative, June 7, 1933) |
