Clare Anne Rippel

Clare Anne Rippel of Wichita, Kansas passed away peacefully on May 24, 2025, at St. Francis Hospital after an extended stay. She was surrounded by her loving husband and three children. Clare was born in Carbondale, Illinois to Reverend Reinhard Krause and Eleanor Krause. She was raised in Dover, Ohio with her four siblings. Clare met the love of her life, Richard Rippel, at Dover High School. They started dating their junior year and continued their love story long distance throughout college. She went to Ohio State University and received her bachelors in nursing to become a registered nurse. Richard went to Tri State College and graduated with an aeronautical engineering degree. As soon as they graduated from college they were married in Dover, Ohio on June 28, 1959. They drove straight to Wichita, Kansas immediately after the wedding in a brand new 1959 Plymouth Belvedere. Clare worked as a nurse at Wesley Hospital in her early career. After the kids were born, she stopped working full time nursing and concentrated on being the wonderful mother that she was. She continued to volunteer as a nurse and was very active as a Parish Nurse at Westwood Presbyterian Church. Clare embraced being a mom. She was the champion mom of all room moms. Every teacher wanted Clare to be their helper. She was a wonderful girl scout leader and Sunday school teacher. With the family’s green station wagon she made an awesome care pool driver. She was the ULTIMATE slumber party mom delivering pizza rolls and chips and dip at 2:00 in the morning. She was the swim team and pool rat mom, with the beautiful tanned skin to show for it. She was the mom who made her children’s clothes when it was still COOL to make clothes, including homecoming and graduation dresses. Clare was the rock that held the family together. She was the listener when we just needed to talk. Her memory never wavered. She could remember everything. It was like her 87 year old brain was in it’s 20’s ! Clare loved the outdoors especially hiking, waterfalls, and flowers. She also loved watching college sports especially anytime Ohio State, Kansas State or the University of Kansas were playing. She was also the craftiest person. Besides all her amazing sewing skills, she also loved beading and making pinecone creations including wreaths, Christmas trees, and just about anything that could be made with pinecones. Clare was passionate about supporting and cheering on her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. She attended every school activity and sporting event that she could possibly attend. She loved to travel with her husband Rich. Together they travelled all over the USA and to many foreign countries. They loved to go on cruises, including two with the entire family of children, spouses, and grandkids. Clare had a strong faith, love of family and will to help others. She volunteered and helped so many people over the years. Her work as a parish nurse included visiting people in the hospital or nursing home and being part of the Angel team network which gave her great joy. Clare was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend Reinhard and Eleanor Krause and her sister, Carolyn Kreighbaum. Clare is survived by her husband, Richard Rippel; three children, Debbie Brown (Mark), Connie Rippel (Sonia Fry), and Doug Rippel (Kim); five grandchildren, Nicholas Brown (Victoria), Joshua Brown (Virginia), Ashley Leger (Bryan), Kaitlyn Rippel (Tommy Schoder), and Amanda Rippel (Parth Patel); six and a half great grandchildren, Carson Brown, Ryan Brown, Merrick Brown, Beckett Brown, Ellie Leger, Remy Schoder, and Kennedy Clare Leger (due August 2025); her sister, Elizabeth (Jeaner) Hommerding (Dick); brothers, Dave Krause (June), John Krause (Mary Jo); and brother-in-law, Jerry Kreighbaum (Carolyn). Clare was such a strong, loving, and compassionate woman to everyone she knew. Her beautiful smile and caring words will be greatly missed by all. Clare's life will be celebrated at Westwood Presbyterian Church at 8007 W. Maple, Wichita, Kansas on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 11:00 am. A meal and time to be together and share memories will follow in the church gymnasium. The service will be live streamed through the church’s Facebook page or YouTube channel and available to watch by selecting the "Watch Now" button below. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Clare Rippel’s name to Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 W Maple Street, Wichita, Kansas 67209. Information on memorial can be found at www.westwoodpc.org A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the Rippel family to all the staff we came into contact with at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. We can never say enough about the nurses, techs, and doctors on 4thfloor east and the cardiothoracic ICU at St Francis. Their compassion, love, and care exhibited to us was above and beyond anything we could have expected. A special heart felt thank you to Dr. Tannoury, Dr. Orozco-Do and Dr. Chehab for the personal attention you provided to all of us these past few weeks. To Dr. Grant and Dr. Steckley we thank you for your continuous care of our mom over the years. “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.” Unknown Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.

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