William Riphagen

     William Riphagen age 87 of Rock Valley, Iowa died April 28, 2022, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley.

     Visitation will be held from 5-7PM on Monday, May 2^nd at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

   A family prayer service will take place at 10:00AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at Carmel Reformed Church in rural Rock Valley, Iowa. Interment will follow the prayer service in Carmel Cemetery.

     A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday at Carmel Reformed Church with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Lunch to follow.

To watch the Riphagen service please click the following: Bill Riphagen Service

     The Riphagen family asks that memorials be directed to:  Senior Companions or Foster Grandparents.

     William Riphagen was born on July 24, 1934, to Joe and Johanna (Ter Haar) Riphagen near Carmel. He was raised in Carmel, Iowa and attended Country School.    

     On September 10, 1954, William was united in marriage to Lavonne Joyce DeJager at the Carmel Reformed Church in Carmel, Iowa. William joined the United States Army in February of 1955 and served until being honorably discharged in 1957. He received his basic training in Fort Smith, Arkansas and was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. After his time in the military, William lived in Sioux Center, Maurice, Carmel, Newkirk, Hull, and Rock Valley. Throughout his life, William was a farmer, owner and operator of the Carmel Store, janitor at Newkirk School, manager at Memorial Funeral Home, furniture mover at Furniture Mart, janitor at Central Church, and a school bus driver.  

   William was a past member of Maurice First Reformed, Newkirk Reformed, Central Reformed, and most recently Carmel Reformed Church. He served on consistory in Maurice, Carmel, and Central Reformed churches. He loved music and was an avid singer, singing first tenor in the Carmel Quartet for many years, as well as in the Valley Male Chorus. He also enjoyed woodworking and was a Foster Grandparent for the Sioux Center Christian School.

     Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 67 years, Lavonne; children, Jim (Laurie Anderson) Riphagen of Orange City, IA, Cheryl (Paul Gilford) Riphagen of Houston, TX, Brad (Bonnie) Riphagen of Jefferson, IA, Mary (John) Brown of Galveston, TX, Joel (Yvonne Choong) Riphagen of Sacramento, CA; ten grandchildren: Joshua (Gena) Riphagen, Seth Riphagen, Coleman (Carrie) Burns, William Britt Burns, Kaleb Burns, Tim (Ashley) Riphagen, Kayce Riphagen, Calvin Brown, Arie Riphagen and Henry Riphagen; five great grandchildren; brother, Gary (Bertha) Riphagen of Rock Valley, IA; along with extended family and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Johanna; sisters, Johanna Voortman, Lena Boscaljon, Joyce Mulder; daughter-in-law, Vickie Riphagen; grandchildren, Michael Riphagen and Elizabeth Riphagen.