Williams Funeral Home, Knoxville, IA
Melody Francis Ripperger was born on May 4, 1961 at Knoxville, Iowa. She was born to Dorothy Darlene (Pettyjohn) Van Gilder Goodsell and John Wesley Goodsell. Melody was the youngest of three sisters. She was educated in the Knoxville community school system and graduated from Knoxville high School with the class of 1979. Melody met Leroy Joseph Ripperger in Melcher, Iowa and on April 26, 1980, they were united in marriage. The family recalls that she fainted at the alter on their wedding day due to the heat. To this union two children were born: Joshua Joseph on December 16, 1980, and Alicia Dawn on Christmas day in 1982. Melody's children will remember their mother as a stubborn person who would always make good on her threats. She had a quick wit and a terrific sense of humor, she told the best jokes! Melody worked at Pella Corporation and Vermeer Corporation in Pella for 17 years, until her health began to decline due to cancer. She passed away on January 21, 2021, surrounded by her family at her residence, at the age of 59. She is survived by her faithful husband, Leroy and their two children; Joshua and Alicia; two sisters, Cathy and Alan Crook of Knoxville, and Janyce Van Gilder of Pella; her niece, Becky and her late husband Rick Shilling of Knoxville and their four children and five grandchildren; her nephew, Chris and his wife Cleta Crook of Attica, IA and their 9 children and three grandchildren; along with many other extended relatives and friends. Melody was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Goodsell; by her mother's first husband, Lloyd Van Gilder; Rick Shilling and Dakota Crook. Melody was an avid collector of angels and Coca-Cola items. Enjoyed working on color by numbers and Dots to Dots. She loved classic rock music from the 60's and 70's and even some country music. Melody also loved to travel; and the digital scrapbook from the cruise to the UK is especially cherished. She enjoyed traveling to Arkansas to visit family, trips to Disney World, and many bowling tournaments. Melody will be missed and cherished in the hearts of all that knew her.
Melody Francis Ripperger was born on May 4, 1961 at Knoxville, Iowa. She was born to Dorothy Darlene (Pettyjohn) Van Gilder Goodsell and John Wesley Goodsell. Melody was the youngest of three sisters. She was educated in the Knoxville community school system and graduated from Knoxville high School with the class of 1979. Melody met Leroy Joseph Ripperger in Melcher, Iowa and on April 26, 1980, they were united in marriage. The family recalls that she fainted at the alter on their wedding day due to the heat. To this union two children were born: Joshua Joseph on December 16, 1980, and Alicia Dawn on Christmas day in 1982. Melody's children will remember their mother as a stubborn person who would always make good on her threats. She had a quick wit and a terrific sense of humor, she told the best jokes! Melody worked at Pella Corporation and Vermeer Corporation in Pella for 17 years, until her health began to decline due to cancer. She passed away on January 21, 2021, surrounded by her family at her residence, at the age of 59. She is survived by her faithful husband, Leroy and their two children; Joshua and Alicia; two sisters, Cathy and Alan Crook of Knoxville, and Janyce Van Gilder of Pella; her niece, Becky and her late husband Rick Shilling of Knoxville and their four children and five grandchildren; her nephew, Chris and his wife Cleta Crook of Attica, IA and their 9 children and three grandchildren; along with many other extended relatives and friends. Melody was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Goodsell; by her mother's first husband, Lloyd Van Gilder; Rick Shilling and Dakota Crook. Melody was an avid collector of angels and Coca-Cola items. Enjoyed working on color by numbers and Dots to Dots. She loved classic rock music from the 60's and 70's and even some country music. Melody also loved to travel; and the digital scrapbook from the cruise to the UK is especially cherished. She enjoyed traveling to Arkansas to visit family, trips to Disney World, and many bowling tournaments. Melody will be missed and cherished in the hearts of all that knew her.
Williams Funeral Home, Knoxville, IA
Melody Francis Ripperger was born on May 4, 1961 at Knoxville, Iowa. She was born to Dorothy Darlene (Pettyjohn) Van Gilder Goodsell and John Wesley Goodsell. Melody was the youngest of three sisters. She was educated in the Knoxville community school system and graduated from Knoxville high School with the class of 1979. Melody met Leroy Joseph Ripperger in Melcher, Iowa and on April 26, 1980, they were united in marriage. The family recalls that she fainted at the alter on their wedding day due to the heat. To this union two children were born: Joshua Joseph on December 16, 1980, and Alicia Dawn on Christmas day in 1982. Melody's children will remember their mother as a stubborn person who would always make good on her threats. She had a quick wit and a terrific sense of humor, she told the best jokes! Melody worked at Pella Corporation and Vermeer Corporation in Pella for 17 years, until her health began to decline due to cancer. She passed away on January 21, 2021, surrounded by her family at her residence, at the age of 59. She is survived by her faithful husband, Leroy and their two children; Joshua and Alicia; two sisters, Cathy and Alan Crook of Knoxville, and Janyce Van Gilder of Pella; her niece, Becky and her late husband Rick Shilling of Knoxville and their four children and five grandchildren; her nephew, Chris and his wife Cleta Crook of Attica, IA and their 9 children and three grandchildren; along with many other extended relatives and friends. Melody was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Goodsell; by her mother's first husband, Lloyd Van Gilder; Rick Shilling and Dakota Crook. Melody was an avid collector of angels and Coca-Cola items. Enjoyed working on color by numbers and Dots to Dots. She loved classic rock music from the 60's and 70's and even some country music. Melody also loved to travel; and the digital scrapbook from the cruise to the UK is especially cherished. She enjoyed traveling to Arkansas to visit family, trips to Disney World, and many bowling tournaments. Melody will be missed and cherished in the hearts of all that knew her.
Melody Francis Ripperger was born on May 4, 1961 at Knoxville, Iowa. She was born to Dorothy Darlene (Pettyjohn) Van Gilder Goodsell and John Wesley Goodsell. Melody was the youngest of three sisters. She was educated in the Knoxville community school system and graduated from Knoxville high School with the class of 1979. Melody met Leroy Joseph Ripperger in Melcher, Iowa and on April 26, 1980, they were united in marriage. The family recalls that she fainted at the alter on their wedding day due to the heat. To this union two children were born: Joshua Joseph on December 16, 1980, and Alicia Dawn on Christmas day in 1982. Melody's children will remember their mother as a stubborn person who would always make good on her threats. She had a quick wit and a terrific sense of humor, she told the best jokes! Melody worked at Pella Corporation and Vermeer Corporation in Pella for 17 years, until her health began to decline due to cancer. She passed away on January 21, 2021, surrounded by her family at her residence, at the age of 59. She is survived by her faithful husband, Leroy and their two children; Joshua and Alicia; two sisters, Cathy and Alan Crook of Knoxville, and Janyce Van Gilder of Pella; her niece, Becky and her late husband Rick Shilling of Knoxville and their four children and five grandchildren; her nephew, Chris and his wife Cleta Crook of Attica, IA and their 9 children and three grandchildren; along with many other extended relatives and friends. Melody was preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Goodsell; by her mother's first husband, Lloyd Van Gilder; Rick Shilling and Dakota Crook. Melody was an avid collector of angels and Coca-Cola items. Enjoyed working on color by numbers and Dots to Dots. She loved classic rock music from the 60's and 70's and even some country music. Melody also loved to travel; and the digital scrapbook from the cruise to the UK is especially cherished. She enjoyed traveling to Arkansas to visit family, trips to Disney World, and many bowling tournaments. Melody will be missed and cherished in the hearts of all that knew her.
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