Obit: Riphenburg, Ethel M. (1926 - 2003)
Transcribed by Kipp Kippenhan

Surnames: Conklin, Fisher, Gesche, Gillard, LaPaun, Riphenburg, Rose

----Source: Wednesday, October 1, 2003 edition of the Clark County Press

Ethel M. Riphenburg

Ethel Riphenburg, age 77, Neillsville, Wis., died Saturday, September 27, 2003, at the Memorial Nursing Home in Neillsville.

Ethel Marie Riphenburg was born on March 2, 1926, in Neillsville, the daughter of Thomas "Del" and Gladys (Rose) Gillard. She attended and graduated from Neillsville High School and then attended the Purdy College in Marshfield, Wis. While she was in high school, she worked as a waitress at the hotel in Neillsville, and during the war, she worked at a submarine plant in Marshfield. Ethel was united in marriage to Nathan Riphenburg, Sr. on March 31, 1945 in Neillsville. After their marriage, they moved to a farm in the Neillsville area. Later, Ethel went back to waitressing and for many years she worked at Becker's Cafe and later at Arbutus Cafe. After her retirement in 1977 she and Nate moved to a home just outside of Neillsville, where they lived for ten years. Then they moved to Greenwood., Wis. and lived there for fifteen years. Nate died on August 1, 1999 and for the past four years Ethel has lived with her son in Mashfield.

In her spare time, Ethel enjoyed television, reading, sewing, quilting, and cheating at cards.

She is survived by eight children, Nate (Mary Lou) Riphenburg, Jr. of Sussex, Wis., Judy (Vic) Moser of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Addie (Art) Leake of Neillsville, Sharon (Gary) Fisher of Freeport, Ill., Maybelle (Ron) Mazola of Green Bay, Wis., Thomas (Patty) Riphenburg of Longwood, Wis., Terry (Sharon) Riphenburg of Marshfield, and Darrell Riphenburg of Longwood; 23 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 23 great- grandchildren; and one sister, June LaPaun of Milwaukee, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Nate, Sr.; a great-grandson, Joshua Kaleb Fisher; a brother, Richard; a sister, Evelyn Fitzmaurice; and a step- brother, Fr. LeLand Rose.

Funeral services for Ethel were held Sept. 30, 2003 at the Gesche Funeral Home in Neillsville. pastor Craig Conklin was the officiate. Interment was in the Neillsville City Cemetery.