Byron M. Rippentrop

Byron Rippentrop, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 5th at his home. He was born on September 10, 1951, in West Des Moines, Iowa to Marcus and Marjorie.

He graduated from Valley High School in West Des Moines in 1969 before attending the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Byron married Linda in 1987 and welcomed two sons shortly thereafter.

He was deeply passionate about baseball and spent many days at the ballfield. As a young boy, he fell in love with the game while playing catch in the back yard with his dad. He joined West Des Moines Little League, where his fondest memory was playing in the Senior League World Series at Sec Taylor Stadium in 1967.

After baseball, Byron fell in love with slow pitch softball; a hobby he and Linda would share for over 10 years. Byron traveled around the state and country playing 16-inch softball with his friends and coed softball with Linda. Once his sons were old enough to play, Byron shared this passion with them by coaching and watching them play every summer.

Throughout his life, Byron found joy in various pursuits, leaving a lasting impact on those around him. Byron combined this joy with his own passion for baseball by becoming a prominent member of the Holiday Park Baseball Club, serving as the Board President for many seasons.

Byron’s love of sport extended to be a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Byron was a proud member of the “Kite Gang”, a group of boyhood friends so close that he considered them his brothers. Through the years they traveled together, celebrated weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays culminating in the formation of an annual golf tournament in 2004. The “Kite Cup” golf tournament traveled to each of their home states to ensure the lifelong friends could see each other once a year – and that each could have their own home course advantage.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Linda; his two sons, Marcus (Jessica) and John; sisters, Janet (Jim) Cooper, Rita Rippentrop, and Ruth Rippentrop; brother-in-law, Linn Coellner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In honor of Byron's life, a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 10, 2023 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1025 28th Street in West Des Moines. The family will also be hosting an Open House at their home from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. July 9, 2023.

Byron was avid supporter of – and participant in - Parkinson’s research and hopeful for an eventual cure. When asked if there was anything he needed, his response was always “a cure” for anyone suffering from this disease. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Byron’s memory toMichael J Fox Foundation or American Parkinson Disease Association.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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