Robert W. Rippelmeyer

Robert W. Rippelmeyer, 89, of Waterloo, Illinois, died January 9, 2016, in Waterloo, IL. He was born June 23, 1926, in Valmeyer, IL.

    Robert is survived by his wife Doris Mary Rippelmeyer (nee Niebruegge); children Lynn Rippelmeyer, Kay (David) Rippelmeyer-Tippy, Marla (Wayne) Blackstone, & Ken (Deborah)  Rippelmeyer; sister Margaret (Herman) Louer; brother Ray Rippelmeyer; grandchildren Eve Tucker, Whitney Tucker, Lucas Richardson, Scott Richardson, Elsa Tippy, & Mason Tippy; nieces and nephews Craig Louer, Connie Abert, Terre Schulmeister, Tammi Pieper, Lorri Rippelmeyer, & Brad Rippelmeyer; & many great-nieces & great-nephews including Michelle (Michael) Harvey & Michael (Jody) Rippelmeyer.

    He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond F. & Selma (nee Pape)  Rippelmeyer; brother Russel (Helen) Rippelmeyer; sister-in-law Glenda Rippelmeyer; & nephew Marvin Rippelmeyer.

    Robert Rippelmeyer took on many community roles. He served as consistory president of St. John United Church of Christ in Valmeyer, board member of the Farmer's State Bank of Valmeyer, Monroe Service Board member, director and president of the Monroe county Rural Electric Co-op, was elected Pres. of the Assoc. of Illinois Rural Co-ops and was the Ill. Representative on the National REA Board. He served as President of the Kaskaskia Port Authority Regional Board, board member of the Monroe Service Board, President and is still member of the Waterloo Rotary, member of the Waterloo Masonic Lodge. 
    He was elected to serve as county commissioner and chairman for ten busy and sometimes contentious years - during the tornado through Maeystown, the courthouse renovation, and the disastrous 93 flood. He was instrumental in the building of Oak Hill Nursing Home.
    During the years through the 1950s and on, he worked with the Lincoln Farm Bureau Farm Management Teams, a U. of I. extension effort to advise farmers about business management and bookkeeping practices. After attending classes, he acted as a tax consultant. He figured he filled out over 10,000 tax returns for farmers in and around Monroe County for Farm Management Services and in his own practice. 
    And most of all, he was a farmer.

    As an expression of sympathy the family prefers memorial contributions to: 
National Parkinson's Foundation
Oak Hill Nursing Home

Visitation:
    1 PM to 3 PM Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Quernheim Funeral Home
      
Celebration of Life:
    3 PM Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo, IL