Marion Rippee, age 100, Branson, Missouri

Marion Rippee passed away Wednesday, September 13, 2023.   She was 100 years and 4 months “young.”   She was born on May 25, 1923, in Manistique, Michigan.  Her parents were William Wieland and Matilda Christensen Wieland.

She started school in a one room building. Her teacher was her older sister, Mildred, who taught all grades-kindergarten through 8th grade. After graduating from high school, she was employed by a land transportation company. She was there three years when she was encouraged by a friend to move to Midland Michigan where she could seek employment at Dow Chemical. 

She married Reinhold Fuhlbrugge in 1946. After five years of marriage Rienhold died of a heart attack, leaving Marion with a 3 year old and a new baby. 

She married Norman Rippee in 1960. They lived a long and happy life together while raising two girls Marlene and Margaret in Midland Michigan. They retired in the early 70’s to Squires Missouri and family cattle farm. They then moved to southwest Missouri where they lived out their remaining years. Norman Rippee passed away in 2003. Norman was a former POW survivor of Stalog Luft IV and WW2 veteran.

Marion was an avid gardener and knitter but spent the majority of her time working with WW2 former POW’s as a National Service Officer. She received many awards and accolades from this position. Most important were the benefits she garnered for the former POW’s she fought so diligently for.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, two brothers, her husband Rienhold, her husband Norman and daughter Marlene. 

 She is survived by her daughter Margaret Fuhlbrugge-Erickson and husband Craig, son-in-law Paul Bierlein, four grandchildren, five great grandchildren and various neices and nephews.

 Graveside memorial service will be held for immediate family only on Thursday September 21st at the Ava cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent in Marion’s memory to the Mt. Vernon Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, MO.

Services under the direction of Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory, Branson, Missouri.