Louis R. "Ripp" Rzepecki, Jr. Obituary (1936 - 2018)

Louis R. "Ripp" Rzepecki, Jr., age 82, of Erie, passed away Saturday, May 12, 2018, after a lengthy illness at Sarah Reed Retirement Center. Louis was born in Erie on January 28, 1936, son of the late Louis Sr. and Susan Gerlock Rzepecki. Louis graduated from Erie Technical High School and attended Gannon University. He also took many courses with a variety of quality paper mills, including Hammermill. Louis was employed in Graphic Arts for 46 years. He worked in outside sales for Daka Paper and is forever grateful for the training by Len Pryber and Spike Spicer. D.J. Mead was also a great paper company. Louis won numerous sales awards and excelled in his profession. Louis made Cursillo #1 in 1963 and for many years, served as a Lay Lecter at St. Mark the Evangelist R.C. Church. Louis enjoyed volunteering as a coach for little league baseball in Harborcreek and many other volunteer opportunities in the Erie area, especially for the YMCA and the Kahkwa Club. Lou was a member of the Erie Maennerchor Club and the Slovak National Club. He was also a member of St. James R.C. Church. Lou enjoyed golf, plays and movies, reading, traveling, gardening, singing and dancing, and was a fan of the NY Yankees, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Penn State football. Most of all, Lou loved his family. In addition to his parents, Louis was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald Rzepecki; father-in-law, Rica DeDionisio; and mother-in-law, Leora DeDionisio. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Dawn E. Rzepecki; daughter, Luanne Robie of New Port Richey, FL; son, Stephen (Karen) Rzepecki of Wattsburg; daughter, Mary (John) Kurnik of Tampa, FL; grandchildren, Ryan (Liz) Rzepecki, Krystyn Kurnik; and John Stephen Kurnik; great-grandson, Max Lee Rzepecki; sisters, Janet (Ed) Swantner of Omaha, NE and Susan Manes of Sharon, PA; brother, Robert (Barbara) Rzepecki of Erie, and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at Sarah Reed for the care and devotion given to our father. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 5151 Buffalo Road (at Hannon Rd. in Harborcreek Twp.) on Friday from 11 am until the time of the Funeral Service there at 1 pm conducted by Rev. James McCormick. Interment will follow at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA of Greater Erie, 31 West 10th Street, Erie, PA 16501 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505.