Emil Henry "Ripp" Ripp, 75, of Cairo, NE, was born on February 7, 1945 and died of Covid on November 28, 2020, at CHI St. Francis in Grand Island, NE, with his family by his side. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, August 27, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church. The Rev's Joseph Kadaprayil, Jorge Canela, and James C. Schmitt will concelebrate the funeral mass. Inurnment will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Cairo, NE at a later date. Visitation will be Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 6 - 7 p.m. at Resurrection Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Non vaccinated individuals are requested to wear a facemask. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. He was the son of Emil J. and Mabel R. (Bailey) Ripp of Elm Creek, NE. He attended Odessa Public School during his elementary years and graduated from Elm Creek Public Schools in 1963. He entered the Army right out of High School with his best friend and later brother-in-law, Ron Broe. He was a radio control operator in Kenai, Alaska during the Vietnam War. While training at a base near Middletown, CA, he met the love of his life, Kathy Hatch. They were married on August 27, 1966, after only three dates and remained husband and wife for 54 years. He couldn't keep his hands off of her and loved her until the end of his life, as promised to God. Ripp worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant as a powder room supervisor until it closed in 1973. With two daughters (4yrs and 2yrs) and a wife to provide for, he was finally hired at New Holland in early 1974 after he showed up every morning for weeks to check his application status. He worked there 33 years until his retirement from Case New Holland in 2007. He was loyal, hardworking, driven, tough, stubborn, ornery, and the compass of his family. Ripp loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, nature shows, dancing, country music, cooking, sex, gardening, raising game birds, and taxidermy. Not necessarily in that order. He passed on his love of hunting and fishing to his family. He raised three daughters, which was truly the hardest job he ever had. He will be remembered by all of their friends and boyfriends growing up as, "the man who loved to clean guns." His family cherished him and he always knew he was loved. Ripp and Kathy are members Resurrection Catholic Church in Grand Island, NE. He encouraged his wife, Kathy, to celebrate his faith and, as a converted Catholic, to be involved in as many committees as she could manage on his behalf. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Kathy Ripp of Cairo; three daughters and sons-in-law, Heather and Al Pusek of Omaha, Celeste and Darren Bartunek of Phillips, and Megan and Donnie Yutesler of St. Paul; sister, Ione Crow formerly of Kearney; brother, Charles (Sharon) Ripp of Elm Creek; sister, Marian Broe of Elm Creek; nine grandchildren, Morgan (Brian) Dalke of Omaha, Alison (Jeremy) Antillion of Rosemount, MN, Nick Pusek of Lincoln, Jackson, Henry, and Olivia Yutesler of St. Paul, and Courtney, Dawson, and Wyatt Bartunek of Phillips; seven great-grandchildren Ava and Eli Dalke, Jayden, Penelope, Piper, Jude, and Poppy Antillion; brother-in-law, Chris Hatch; sister-in-law, Portia Hatch; many nieces and nephews some of which were his hunting and fishing buddies. Ripp was preceded in death by his parents, Emil J. and Mabel R. (Bailey); sister, Carol Meier; brother-in-law, Ed Meier; brother, David Ripp; brother-in-law, Dick Crow; brother-in-law and best friend, Ron Broe; and parents-in-law, Fred and Lois Hatch. Memorials are suggested to, For All Generations, Resurrection Catholic Church, Grand Island, NE. We are asking friends and family to pay it forward and help some poor soul in Ripp's name instead of sending flowers. He always loved it when Kathy gave away all the wonderful baked goods to friends and those in need. Lovingly written by Celeste Bartunek. ;) Your gift to the family would be to share your memories of Ripp at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under his obituary guestbook and you can view his video tribute there as well. Visitation Resurrection Catholic Church Thursday, August 26, 2021 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM 4110 Cannon Road Grand island, Nebraska 68803

Non vacinnated individuals in attendance are requested to wear a facemask.

Vigil Service Resurrection Catholic Church Thursday, August 26, 2021 7:00 PM 4110 Cannon Road Grand island, Nebraska 68803

Non vacinnated individuals in attendance are requested to wear a facemask.

Mass of Christian Burial Resurrection Catholic Church Friday, August 27, 2021 10:30 AM 4110 Cannon Road Grand island, Nebraska 68803

Non vacinnated individuals in attendance are requested to wear a facemask.