Alvin & Marion Rippke

RIPPKE HAMANN HANSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/14/2010 at 20:02:23

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Alvin and Marion Rippke
By Diane Meier

Alvin Rippke and Marion Hamann first met in 1946 while she was attending the baptism of her nephew at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moville, Iowa, and Alvin was home from the Army on furlough. The Lutheran Church has continued to play a key role in their lives and that of their family.

Alvin Edward Rippke was born July 27, 1922, to Otto Henry and Margretha Hansen Rippke at their farm home located five miles south of Moville. He is the youngest of their eight children, the others being Sophia, Tena, Paulina, Otto, Leonard, Margaret and Wilbur.

He attended Moville District No. 6 rural school and graduated form Moville High School in 1941. Following graduation he farmed with his father until he was drafted into the army in May 1945. During his time in the service, Alvin spent ten months in Paris, France, with the Military Police Battalion. He was discharged in November of 1946. Alvin resumed farming with his father and began farming operations of his own after his father’s death in 1948.

On August 22, 1948, he was united in marriage to Marion Helen Hamann of Anthon, Iowa.

Marion was born November 5, 1923, to Hans Peter and Henriette Elizabeth Zellmer Hamann. She grew up on a farm east of Anthon, the youngest of six children. Older siblings were William, John, Mildred, Alfred and Margaret.

Marion attended country school and graduated from Anthon High School in 1941. After graduated she worked in Garrison’s Variety and Grocery Store until her marriage.

Following their marriage, Alvin and Marion moved to the current family farm home, located directly north of his parents’ home, which they have continued to own and operate, and where they have raised their children.

They are the parents of five children: David Edward, born June 29, 1949; Neil Evan, born June 25, 1951; Diane Elaine, born June 24, 1953; Dale Eugene, born March 1956; and Byron Eric, born September 26, 1958. All their children were active in 4H, the church and school sports, speech, and dramatics. Each of them attended school in Moville and graduated form Woodbury Central High School.

David married Deborah DeVore on January 4, 1975. They live in Genoa, Nebraska, where both teach school and have three children, Jennifer, Bradley, and Teresa.

Neil married Joylyn Wiese on November 7, 1981. They live near Correctionville. Neil is a veterinarian practicing at Anthon, and Joylyn is a nurse at the Colonial Manor Retirement Home is Correctionville.

Diane married Lester Meier on May 31, 1975. They live near Hubbard, Iowa, where Les is a veterinarian and Diane, a journalist. They are the parents of three sons, Nathan, Matthew and Jordan.

Dale married Sharon Jensen on August 20, 1977. They have tow children, Rhiannon and Morgan. Son, Dylan, died in infancy. They live in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where Dale has been employed in sales and Sharon is a department manager at Kmart.

Byron graduated from Iowa State University just this past year and is an associate veterinarian with the Woolbridge Veterinary Clinic in Pierson, Iowa.

During the years of their marriage, Alvin has been engaged in grain and livestock farming. He worked for a time at North American Manufacturing Company and is also a DeKalb-Pfizer Seed dealer. His interest in community affairs resulted in serving on the Woodbury County Extension Service and acting as 4H Project leader several years.

Marion was busy during the growing up years of their children being a housewife, mother, chauffer, nurse, room mother, gardener, midwife to their sheep herd, and errand boy. Later she was employed at Younkers in Sioux City for a time and also worked at the local drug store in Moville. She is presently employed at Hunting’s IGA in Moville.

Alvin and Marion are active members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moville where Alvin has served on the church council in various positions. He is a member of Lutheran Brotherhood and was on the building committee for the church parish unit. Marion has been a Sunday School Teacher, served on the Altar Guild and has been a long time member of Trinity Lutheran Church Women, also serving on the executive board.

Both Marion and Alvin believe that ‘happy is the home that puts its trust in the Lord’.