Lily Ripperger of Creston, IA, has passed away, leaving behind a family and community who loved her dearly.
Here is the shape of a life remembered with love.
Lily spent her working life as ['Southwestern Community College'] — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Years are made of mornings, and mornings of moments.
Lily Ripperger, 79, of Creston formerly of Shannon City, died Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Homestead Memory Care Facility in Creston. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be 11:30 a.m. May 16, 2026, at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Father Patrick Amedeka will officiate. Burial will be at Redding Cemetery in Redding. Open visitation with family receiving friends will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m., prior to services at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Memorials may be directed to the family to be determined at a later date. Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.
Lillian (Lily) Ethel Ripperger was born on January 22, 1947 to Levi Clarence and Elva Rose (Witham) Minor in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. She was a twin to Lucy (Minor) Henry. She graduated from Leominster High School in Leominster, Massachusetts in 1965.
She was united in marriage in 1967 to Lewis (Bud) Ripperger in Leominster, Massachusetts. They settled on a farm north of Afton, Iowa after Bud was discharged from the Army. Three children were born to this union, Eric John, Tina Marie and Lori Ann. Lily enjoyed raising her children in the country. They had 2 large gardens and canned most everything they grew. She loved to bake and sewed several dresses that the girls wore when they were younger. Lily taught catechism at St Edwards and was a 4-H leader. Lily and Bud later divorced. She then met the love of her life, Doyle Parker, and moved to Shannon City, Iowa where she spent the next 30+ years of her life. Her and Doyle went on many trips on the motorcycle, including a trip to South Dakota. Later in life, they traveled in an RV to many family reunions. She loved visiting her siblings and seeing her nieces and nephews. She was honored to have the role of Godmother to two nephews, Travis Marcoux and Alex Minor.
Lily was employed at the Area XIV Agency on Aging for 12 years before retiring. She previously worked at Southwestern Community College, Creston News Advertiser, and Afton Star Enterprise. She enjoyed quilting, reading, baking, and spending time with her grandchildren. She made numerous quilts, afghans, doll clothes, bags and numerous other items for grandchildren and other family members. Desktop publishing was one of her favorite things to do. She is credited with researching and compiling three family history books and a family cookbook.
She is survived by her best friend Doyle Parker; son, Eric (Deb) Ripperger of Afton; daughters, Tina Siddens of Creston and Lori Ripperger of Polk City; seven grandchildren, Trenton (Megan) Ripperger of Foley, AL; Jessie (Dan) Burris of Eagle, NE, Breanna (Brian) Burris of Winterset, Tyson Smith of Madrid, Carson Smith currently serving in military, and Savannah and Jamie McKnight of Polk City; great-granddaughter, Lillian Burris of Eagle, NE; brothers, Walter Minor of Gardner, MA, Lester Minor of Cordova, AL, and Carl (Lisa) Minor of Bloomington, IN; sisters, Phyllis (William) Yeaton of Nashua, NH, twin Lucy (William) Henry of Decatur, GA, and Paula (Russell) Marcoux of Leominster, MA.
Preceding her in death were her parents; brother, Clarence Minor; sister, Elsie Chandler; two nieces, Julie (Minor) Nies and Debbie (Yeaton) Bender; and one nephew, Timothy Minor. Also two great nephews, Evan Marcoux and Caleb Locke, who were very special to her.
