Ann was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Grace Norman, sisters Leola and husband Jim McBride, Dorothy Gray and husband Ollie, Ruth Saathoff and husband Bud, sister-in-law Madonna Norman and brother-in-law Dean Dukat. Ann is survived by Gerald, her husband of 66 years, sister Velma Dukat, and brother Leo Norman, Jr. and wife Dorothy. Her sons Gerald, Jr., grandchildren Timothy, Michael, Chris, and Sean; son Shannon, grandchildren Randy, Kelly and husband Caleb Karan, and Brianna; and son Ron and wife Laura, grandchildren Ronnie, Jonathan, and Emily; great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In her hometown of Weslaco, Ann was in the National Honor Society, the band-twirler and drum major, in numerous beauty contests in the Valley and Corpus Christi, College Homecoming Queen, Miss Bucaneer Days, and in the Miss Texas Contest.
Ann graduated Cum Laude from the University of Houston and was a business teacher. Ann treasured her Catholic faith, family, friends, and hobbies of gardening, photography, and travel trailering with her husband (Rip) Gerald.
Pallbearers will be Michael Mackey, Lance Hinojosa, Garrett Bigelow, Fernando Macias, Rueben Pardo, Carlos Zepeda.
Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 109 N. Frazier St., Conroe, TX 77301 at 10:30 a.m. with rosary to begin at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Garden Park Cemetery.
Ann requested before her death that in lieu of flowers she wanted prayers and masses offered for her soul and for her family; any donations to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Conroe, Texas will be greatly appreciated.
The Ripkowski Family offers its deepest gratitude to the countless friends and family members who showed support through prayers, cards, e-mails, phone calls, visits, flowers, and other gestures of kindness.
Special thanks are extended to the compassionate health care providers at HCA Conroe Hospital, Cornerstone Specialty Hospital, Brightpointe Skilled Nursing Facility, Genesis Senior Care II and Heart to Heart Hospice.
