Obit: Riplinger, Ben F. (1879 - 1944)

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Surnames: RIPLINGER WAGNER STURNER GEORGE HARVEY ZASSENHAUS LAMONT TESMER

----Sources: Marathon County Register (Unity, Clark Co. Wis.) 08/25/1944

Riplinger, Ben F. (25 Aug. 1879 - 15 Aug. 1944)

Funeral Services for Ben Riplinger Friday

Well Known Businessman of This Section of State Killed In Auto Accident Near Oshkosh Last Week.

Funeral services for Ben F. Riplinger, aged 65 years, who was killed Tuesday morning of last week in an auto accident near Oshkosh, were held at the Lulloff Funeral Home in Colby Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock with internment made in the Colby cemetery.

The accident occurred at 9 a.m. Tuesday of last week on highway 41, 4 miles south of Oshkosh, where the Riplinger car, driven by Pvt. Ben M. Riplinger, Jr., was struck by a milk truck driven by Merlin Wagner of Oshkosh. The Riplinger car was proceeding east and the milk truck north when they met at the intersection, the car being hit broadside by the truck. Both cars were locked together and careened across the road, hitting another parked car which was empty. Highwaymen had to raise the cab of the truck, which landed directly on top of the car, before freeing Wagner. The Riplinger car was so completely smashed that crowbars had to be used to pry it open before the two men, who were pinned up against the dashboard, could be extracted.

The elder Riplinger died in the ambulance enroute to the hospital, of a probable skull fracture, and his son, who suffered a skull fracture, broken collar bone, injured back and left arm, is now in Mercy hospital at Oshkosh. The driver of the truck received a badly injured left arm and suffered from shock.

Ben Riplinger was born on August 25, 1879, and was married in Colby to Miss Verna Sturner. They have always made their home in Colby, where Mr. Riplinger had been in business for many years.

Surviving besides his widow are two daughters, Mrs. William George of Gilman and Mrs. Ray Harvey of Chicago; one son, Pvt. Ben M. Riplinger of Camp Howze, Texas; two sisters, Mrs. Fred Zassenhaus and Mrs. Angus Lamont of Colby; one brother, Fred Riplinger of Riplinger, and five grandchildren. Another daughter, Mrs. Arthur Tesmer, died on August 3 of this year.