Name: Ripperger, William George
Born: 10/21/1930
Where Born: St. Peter’s, Franklin County, Indiana
Ordained: 07/15/1955
Where Ordained: Rome, Italy by Pope Pius XII
Served From-To: 1955-1973 and 1995-2002, 2004-2006
Died: 10/08/2022
Where Died: Louisville, Kentucky
Buried: St. Peter Cemetery in Franklin County.
Rev. William George Ripperger, 91, died Saturday October 8, 2022 in Louisville, KY following complications from a stroke. . Bill was born October 21, 1930 at St. Peter’s in Franklin County, Indiana to the late William and Hilda (Wissel) Ripperger.
He was a Roman Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and was retired from full-time ministry in 2006. He attended grade school in St. Peter’s as well as St. Michael’s in Brookville, IN and St. Andrew’s in Richmond, IN. Bill attended Major and Minor seminary at St. Meinrad Seminary, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and finishing valedictorian of his class. Bill had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed traveling with a singing quartet during his seminary years. In 1951, Bill continued his religious studies at Gregorian University living at North American College in Rome, Italy. There, he received both a Bachelor of Arts and Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained in Rome on July 17, 1955 by Pope Pius XII. Bill’s priestly assignments included 1956 (assoc. pastor) SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis; 1963 (assoc. pastor) St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington; 1969 (pastor) St. Paul, Greencastle; 1972 (co-pastor) St. Augustine, Jeffersonville; 1991 (assoc. pastor) Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Redwood City, CA; 1994 (assoc. pastor) St. Paul, Tell City, St. Michael, Cannelton, and St. Pius, Troy; 1995 (pastor), St. Maurice, Napoleon, and sacramental minister, Immaculate Conception, Millhousen, and St. Denis, Jennings County; 2001, reappointed pastor of St. Maurice, Napoleon, and continuing as sacramental minister, Immaculate Conception, Millhousen, and St. Denis, Jennings County; 2004, administrator, St. John the Baptist, Starlight. He also taught religion part-time from 1956-1963 at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. In 1973, Bill took a permitted leave of absence from the priesthood where he enjoyed precious years as father and step-father. He worked in public service for the State of Indiana, ultimately obtaining his certification in hospital administration, overseeing long-term care facilities. Bill recalled fondly the years he coached little league baseball, attended grade school boys and girls sporting events, and sang in the church choir. He had two quarter-horses whom he loved. Bill took pride in sportsmanship, gardening, lawncare, cooking, and family. He rejoined the active priesthood in 1991 where he served until 2006. Bill retired to the Tampa, FL area where he enjoyed his golf league, fondly nicknamed “The Dribblers,” and many fun years with family and friends. Anyone who knew Bill understood his competitive nature and passions for golf, horseracing, and playing cards. Bill was a single-digit handicap golfer for many years, having numerous holes-in-one, including one on the famous 7 th Hole at Pebble Beach. Bill never saw a putt he couldn’t make. His lowest score ever was a 31 for nine holes. He was very proud of the Fuzzy Zoeller autographed golf bag he won in the 1991 Pastor’s golf tournament. Bill cherished his long-time priest brotherhood, especially his regular golf four-some, and Sunday afternoon golf with his daughter. He found great joy searching the woods, tall grass, or water hazards for “quality” lost balls. Bill loved handicapping horses and could often be found studying the racing form. He spent many a weekend night alongside family and good friends playing euchre, blackjack, poker or pinochle. If you were his partner, you had better not lead with the wrong card! A gregarious yet compassionate personality, Bill shared his laughter, passions, and endless stories with anyone who would listen. He carried a fierce love and devotion for his Ripperger family and beloved hometown of St. Peter. Bill was privileged to have performed numerous baptisms and weddings during his ministry. He was honored to have touched so many lives with his work and recognized early on his calling was to work with and among people, both as a diocesan priest and public servant.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Rev. Harold Ripperger and Carroll Ripperger, and step-son Shannon Tennis.
He is survived by his daughter, Kerri Ripperger (Greg Joyner) of Louisville and step-son Shawn Tennis (Jamie) of Bainbridge; sisters Helen Lawler and Mary O’Donnell, both of Indianapolis; brothers Edward Ripperger (Rosanne Taylor) of Indianapolis, Louis Ripperger of New Jersey, and Robert Ripperger (Kathy) of Indianapolis; sister-in-law Daphne Ripperger of Richmond, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the loving care he received from staff at Magnolia Springs Louisville, as well as his individual caregivers.
Visitation will take place Thursday October 20, 2022 3:30-7:30PM with vigil service at 7PM. Calling will continue Friday October 21, 2022 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Jeffersonville, IN from 9:30-10:30AM, with funeral mass to follow. Private burial will be in St. Peter’s cemetery at a later date.
The Criterion – October 21, 2022
Father William Ripperger served in parishes across the archdiocese
By Sean GallagherFather William Ripperger, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, died on Oct. 8 in Louisville, Ky., where he was living in retirement. He was 91.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 at St. Augustine Church, 315
E. Chestnut St., in Jeffersonville. Archbishop Charles C. Thompson will be the principal celebrant. Retired Father Frederick Denison will be the homilist.
Burial will follow at a later date at St. Peter Cemetery in Franklin County.
William B. Ripperger was born on Oct. 21, 1930, to the late William and Hilda (Wessel) Ripperger. He grew up first as a member of St. Peter Parish in Franklin County. Later, he and his family were members of St. Michael Parish in Brookville and the former St. Andrew Parish in Richmond (now part of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish there).
Father Ripperger became an archdiocesan seminarian after graduating from the eighth grade and received priestly formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad. He later was formed for ordained ministry at the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University, both in Rome.
He earned a bachelor’s degree at Saint Meinrad, and bachelor’s and licentiate degrees in sacred theology at the Gregorian.
Archbishop Luigi Traglia ordained Father Ripperger a priest on July 17, 1955, at the Church of the 12 Apostles in Rome. The newly ordained priest celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving the following day at the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome.
After completing further graduate studies in Rome, Father Ripperger’s first pastoral assignment in the archdiocese was as associate pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis from 1956-63.
From 1963-69, he ministered as associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington.
Father Ripperger first served as a pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greencastle, where he ministered from 1969-72.
In 1972, he was appointed co-pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Jeffersonville.
The following year, Father Ripperger was granted a leave of absence from priestly ministry. That leave continued until 1991 when he was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Redwood, Calif.
Father Ripperger returned to the Church in central and southern Indiana beginning in 1995 when he was appointed pastor of St. Maurice Parish in Napoleon and sacramental minister of Immaculate Conception Parish in Millhousen and the former St. Denis Parish in Jennings County.
In 2002, Father Ripperger was granted permission to retire. He returned to ministry in 2004, serving for the next two years before his permanent retirement as administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Starlight.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, or the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St. NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037. †