Funeral Mass for Gordon A. Ripple, 87, longtime Colfax dentist, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Colfax. A private family graveside service will precede the service in the Colfax Cemetery.
Gordon passed away Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax. Gordon was born July 7, 1926, in Bemidji, Minn., to Aleck and Mary Markus Ripple. He spent most of his youth in Rochester, Minn., and graduated from high school there. Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Philippines during World War II in a P.T. squadron as a torpedoman's mate. He was honorably discharged and returned home. Gordon attended Gonzaga University in Spokane and later completed his doctor of dental surgery degree at St. Louis University. While at St. Louis University, he met a beautiful nursing student named Doris June Mitulski. The couple married Sept. 3, 1952. They moved to Spokane, where Gordon practiced briefly before settling in Colfax and opening his dental office here. He has resided in Colfax for the last 60 years.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Colfax Elks. Gordon enjoyed entertaining at his home and in his yard, where his love for gardening showed. He was also known to be an excellent cook. He was an avid storyteller and could spin "colorful" tales of all sorts. Gordon was talented with his hands and was a wood-worker, made jewelry and completed several home improvement projects requiring various carpentry skills. Many of Doc's crafts and decorations adorn the houses of family and friends. He also enjoyed golf and playing bridge. Gordon and Doris liked to travel and they loved spending time with their family. He retired from full-time dentistry in 1990. Doris passed away in October 2005 and Gordon moved to the Courtyard, where he has made many new and lasting friendships since.
He is survived by four children, Judy Ripple Davis of Colfax, Susan Haislett of Corona, Calif., Tom Ripple of Wilsonville, Ore., and Jim Ripple of Petaluma, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; a brother, Harold Ripple of Skanee, Mich.; and a sister, Helen Ripple of San Francisco. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters, as well as his parents. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Whitman Hospital Foundation or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, N.Y. 10018. The online guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com. Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.
