Tripp, Jeri L. (DeWitt) Schaffer 1945-2015

DEWITT, TRIPP, BAKER, SCHAFFER, KELLING, STEGMAN, SEBRING, SEARS, SCHECHINGER, GADE, PARKER, NELSON, MYERS, CHAPMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/21/2018 at 18:34:18

Jeri L. (DeWitt) SCHAFFER TRIPP

January 5, 1945 -- May 21, 2015

Jeri L. Tripp, age 70, of Grinnell, died on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A celebration of her life will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 26, 2015, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Jim Dotson officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 26th at Union Cemetery near Livermore, Iowa. Memorials may be designated to the Jeri L. Tripp Memorial Fund, mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Jeri was born on January 5, 1945, in Algona, Iowa to Walton Leslie DeWitt and Olive Luella (Baker) DeWitt. She was raised and educated in Bode, Iowa. In 1966, she was united in marriage to Richard Schaffer and their marriage later ended in divorce. She married Albert Tripp in 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2005. Jeri spent her early working career in food service. She spent many years working as a cook in several restaurants. She owned her own café in Renwick, Iowa and was recently employed at Meskwaki Casino as a dealer in the poker room. She retired from Meskwaki in November of 2014.

Jeri will be remembered for her kind-hearted, sarcastic but kind, and fun-loving way. She was an excellent cook who made the most amazing fudge. She held a special love for her dogs and called them her kids. She was also a talented artist who enjoyed painting. Her enjoyments included spending time with her family, gardening, playing cards, solving jigsaw puzzles, and going on trips to South Dakota.

Jeri is survived by her brother, Steven DeWitt of Washington, IA; a niece, Terri (Rick) Kelling of Grinnell; 6 great nieces, Andrea Stegman of Kansas City, Missouri, Amy (Josh) Sebring of Slater, IA, Kim (Derrick) Sears of Grinnell, Amanda (Raen) Schechinger of Clarksville, IA, Kristen Kelling of Grinnell, and Kylie Kelling of Grinnell; 6 great nieces and nephews, Tyler and Lauren Gade, Madison and Caleb Parker, Reagan Sebring, and Evin Sears; and close friends Don Nelson and Donna Nelson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walton and Olive (Baker) DeWitt; a sister, Maurine Myers in 1982; and a niece, Kelly Chapman in 1983.

http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Jeri-L.-Tripp-102496974