Leona Verl Rippen

Leona V. Rippen of Okemos, Michigan passed away January 23, 2025 at the age of 102. Leona was born September 25, 1922 in West Unity, Ohio to Sheldon and Ona (Cummins) Munch. Leona was the youngest of their three children. Above all, Leona cherished friends and family.

Her fondest childhood memories were of interacting with her many friends and her large extended family of 22 aunts and uncles and many cousins. She often told of playing with her dolls and board games while camping in the woods. Their laughter echoed through trees and was enhanced by meals catered by her mother. After graduating from high school, she attended business school in Cleveland, Ohio. This led to a secretarial position at Alcoa Aluminum Company during the early war years. While in this position she was introduced to Alvin Rippen by her sister, the man to become the love that sustained her for the next 76 years. Their loving bond never weakened.

She thrived on creating a secure, loving home. Leona always put the needs of family and friends before her own. Her desire to serve and enrich the lives of others played out fully in her participation in many ministries at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Lansing, Michigan. She treasured the lifelong friends acquired there. She also volunteered in faculty scholarship fund drives for Michigan State University. Other community outreach activities included organizing a regional March of Dimes drive and helping Red Cross deliver blood with Alvin whenever and wherever it was needed.

Leona had great appreciation for the natural world as well as the finer things in life, equally enjoying camping trips to national parks and attending concerts performed by great musicians. She set a high bar for her children and grandchildren but never lectured. Her family just knew when expectations were met but always loved even when they might have fallen short. Her legacy strengthens all of us.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin, her parents, and siblings L. Russell Munch, and Velma Bowers. Survivors include her three children, Arletta Smith, Jean Worden, and Tom Rippen; six grandchildren Lisa (Smith) Spencer, Michael Smith, Jonathan Sims, Joanna (Sims) Swanson, Amanda (Rippen) White, and Daniel Rippen; and 16 great grandchildren.

A visitation for Leona will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, 125 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, Michigan 48912. Leona will be laid to rest at Floral Grove Cemetery in Pioneer, Ohio with a private family burial.