Veronica Ripka

Veronica "Fronie" Ripka, age 90 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully surrounded by her family Saturday, July 18, 2009 at St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. followed by Christian Mothers and St. Paul's Catholic Aid rosary at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Veronica Essler was born April 7, 1919 in Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Michael and Anna (Rousslange) Essler. She had been employed as an egg candler at Swift and Company before her marriage. On November 26, 1942 she married Ervin Ripka at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and the couple resided in Sauk Centre.Fronie was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, St. Paul's Catholic Aid, and St. Michael's Hospital Auxiliary.Fronie always thought of others before herself. She enjoyed taking care of her family, baking, cooking, gardening, and playing cards.

Survivors include three children, Arlene (Bruce) Taber of Minnetonka, James (Rose Marie) Ripka of Cary, North Carolina, and Janet (William) Lubov of St. Louis Park; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Felix (Judy) Essler of Kenmare, North Dakota; three sisters, Rose Walker of St. Cloud, Anna Mae Haskamp of Sauk Centre, and Yvonne Ahles of Walker.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ervin Ripka on February 10, 2001; three brothers, Henry, Aloys, and Donald Essler; two sisters, Marie Welters and Kathryn Gruber Borgmann.

Serving as casket bearers will be Bruce, David, Mark, and Michael Taber, Megan Jacoby, Alyssa and Jamie Lubov. Cross bearer will be Emery Taber and scripture bearer will be Anna Mae Haskamp.