Mary Roberta Rippe

On August 15, 2021, Mary Roberta “Bobbie” Rippe (nee Pokorski), Born October 4th 1944, sallied forth to her next adventure with the aplomb we’ve all come to expect from her. Her children, and a good collection of grandchildren and friends, showered her with love in her daughter’s home the week before she passed. It was as she wanted it.

Belle and Raymond Pokorski broke the mold when they brought Bobbie - never Mary - into the world. Imagine the surprise when she wasn’t the boy they predicted her to be, and so planned to name her after her uncle Robert, and just like that, Bobbie was born. Set firmly in the middle of 6 siblings (Raymond J., Carol A., Judith F., Our Bobbie, John C., Michael R.), Bobbie was in many ways the typical middle child - social, active, rebellious, passionate. Add to that her deep well of love and you begin to form a picture of this indelible and indomitable woman.

Always a seeker, Bobbie passionately met the world with self-assurance and the desire to find her own way. Hers was never a smooth road, but Bobbie always sought happiness, love and excitement equalling that which she put out to the world. She loved to travel, loved the exotic, loved people with interesting stories. She visited the most interesting places in the United States and travelled the world in to her 70s.

Bobbie loved books, stories, nooks and crannies, overlooked and under-appreciated places, people and things - any door that brought interest or uniqueness to life. She was a champion of those not able to advocate for themselves, be they 2-legged or four. She deeply loved introducing children to all the interesting things in the world. She loved animals, her knowledge of creatures was vast. She would stop to move turtles to the side of the road; raised chickens, geese, swans, horses, snakes, hens, cows, birds, fish, dogs, cats; enthusiastically picked up snakes to inspect; rehabbed many injured souls (Rosie the opossum & her littermates, Monday the deer, a myriad of birds, cats, dogs, swans, raccoons and more).

More than any of these other things, she loved her children and grandchildren. When they showed an interest in something she was there with all the information she could gather, there as a noted mom supporting her son deployed in Desert Storm, there to help her daughter find her path and raise her children. Tho her adventurous spirit oft times claimed her attention, her love for Chris and Beth, and their babies, was consistent and deep.

Ultimately, Bobbie was slowed, but never, never cowed by the cruel advance of Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. The people with her most in the latter part of her life, including friends, family and staff with Tru PACE and Landmark Memory Care, will attest to that. They will tell you how much they loved Bobbie and the quality of love she gave so freely, how she rallied help for those around her most in need. How she zeroed in with alacrity on the people in her circle who were lonely or sad, to befriend them and raise their spirits. The joy on her face when she would see someone she loved will never be forgotten.

You could go on for days recalling Bobbie’s adventures, reflecting on the hard times, but the truth at the heart of it all is that Bobbie was that particular spirit that draws you in, that you want to love and be with. And here she is now, unbound from the confines of her corporeal form, at long last free to seek out all of those things she loved and desired so very much. She will be sorely missed.

Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents, Belle Jane (nee Curran) and Raymond Leonard Pokorski, her brothers Raymond J. and John C. Pokorski, her sister Carol A. Shufeldt, and much beloved granddaughter, Madeline R. McPherson. She is survived by her sister Judith F. Stubblefield (husband Jack) and brother Michael R. Pokorski; son Christopher J. McPherson (wife Melissa), and children Sarah A., Mia S., Max J. D., Molly M. and Miranda F. McPherson; by her daughter Elizabeth A. Jett (husband Michael P. Moore), and their children Curran M. and Charlotte B. Jett-Moore. Bobbie is also survived by many dearly loved nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews, friends, and those she held in confidence but close to her heart, including son Christopher Caporal, with whom she was recently reunited.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to either the Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center <https://www.mowildlife.org/> or Tru PACE of Lafayette, CO <https://www.trucare.org/make-a-donation-to-tru/>.

Condolences and good memories may be sent directly to family, or via Howe Mortuary and Crematorium, Longmont, CO <https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/longmont-co/mary-rippe-10311295>.

A celebration of life open house will be held at her daughter Beth’s house. Details to follow.