Laura Marie Ripper

Laura Marie Ripper, 89, of Bethany Health Care, Sycamore, Illinois, formerly of 776 Prairieview Rd, Knoxville, Illinois, died at 3:16 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford. Laura was born on November 11, 1917 in Burlington, Iowa the daughter of Henry Gearhardt and Jesse Elizabeth Matthews Gruenjes. She married Marion S. Courson. He died in 1963. She then married Richard F. Ripper in 1968. He died in 1994. Surviving Laura are 2 daughters: Marian Joyce (David B.) Rosine of Knoxville, Tennessee and Nancy Marie (Don) Brewer of Sycamore, Illinois; 1 sister Francis Schideman of Burlington, Iowa; 5 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Preceding her in death were 2 sisters and 5 brothers. Laura graduated from Burlington High School. She was a homemaker and of the Lutheran faith. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at Watson Funeral Home, with the Reverend Thomas Ek officiating. No visitation is planned. Burial will be in Maquon Cemetery in Maquon, Illinois. Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. An electronic memorial tribute of Laura is available upon request.