Nancy A. “Toots” Ripp

POYNETTE – Nancy A. “Toots” Ripp, age 63, passed away on Monday, December 14, 2020, peacefully in her sleep at home. 

Nancy was born on July 22, 1957 in Madison, the daughter of James “Jim” and Bernie (Bernadette Buechner) Stronach.  Nancy married her soul mate and love of her life, Ron Ripp on April 23, 1977.  She worked for American Family Insurance in the Health Company for just shy of 40 years, retiring in 2014. 
Anyone would agree that she was loved by everyone that knew her, and she had a heart of gold. She had such a passion for life. Nancy was greatly loved by her large extended family and many friends for her kindness, generosity and caring manner. She was truly a person that gave of herself. If you needed something, she was there for you. It was however, as many knew, her nature to be mischievous. Practical playful jokes were part of her rather spirited nature, with a sense of humor and laugh that were truly infectious. She loved to get someone with a practical playful joke, but she was good natured when the practical joke was on her. There were many hobbies she  enjoyed starting with her own horse “Babe” at 14. She rode all the time with friends and took Babe to the Dane County fair to show. She loved camping, playing cards, painting rocks, making jewelry, gardening, swimming, canning, following the Packers and Badgers and she especially enjoyed 4-wheeling. She and Ron started 4-wheeling 20 plus years ago with a couple friends. The group grew over the years to include over 30 people, adopting their name as the “Poynette Prowlers”. Rain or shine there were always good times and fun. The group adopted Ron as their Trail Boss and Nancy was his Woman, grin! This great group of friends will now add Ron and Nancy to their many wonderful memories on trips to Up North and other destinations.

She is survived by four brothers, Dale (Mary Lou) Stronach, Arne (Bonnie) Stronach, Donny (Jean Ann) Stronach and Leo (Becky) Stronach;  a sister, Rose (John) Fitzgerald;  her special nieces and nephews, Christopher, Raphael, Kurtis, Kelly, Debbie, Brenda, Travis, Brandon, Michael, Matthew, Michelle, and Jason;  and a fond, kind companion for the last year, Howie O’Brien.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ron in 2016, her parents, Jim and Bernie, a brother, Larry, a niece, Kimberly and a brother-in-law, Jim Munz.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 131 W. Washington St. in Poynette. The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

In lieu of any flowers, memorials may be made to the family to be used for organizations that were important to Nancy. 

Nancy, thank you for sharing your life with us. We will miss you and love you forever. Your memory will always bring a smile. The biggest smile of all, is thoughts of your new beginning. The one when we see you and Ron together again!