Eugene Tripp

Eugene "Gene" Richard Tripp passed away in the afternoon on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at his home in Faribault. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church (139 Mercy Drive) in Faribault with the Rev. Kevin Finnegan, Officiant. Interment will be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Church of Annunciation Cemetery in Hazelwood, Minnesota, with Military honors provided by the Northfield VFW and American Legion Color Guard. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday morning. Gene is survived by his loving wife Darlene of Faribault; daughter Sharon, sons Robert "Bobby" and Bruce; stepchildren Charleen Anderson, Greg (Jenny) Karow, Cindy Karow, Marlene Karow, Les Ferris and brother Gerald "Jerry". He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. Gene was born on June 3, 1927 in Northfield, one of seven children, to Robert and Minnie (Fredrickson) Tripp. He spent his formative years in Northfield and enlisted in the Navy after finishing his junior year in high school. After the Navy, he returned to finish high school in Northfield and upon graduation worked at several automobile repair businesses prior to spending the bulk of his time working for Voegel's Ice Cream Company serving customers throughout the surrounding areas of Northfield and Faribault. He ended his work years as a bus driver for the Benjamin Bus Company of Northfield. Darlene and Gene lived for many years in Northfield prior to making their home in Faribault spending many pleasant summers at their cabin on French Lake. He loved his travels to Florida, Texas and Colorado visiting family. Frequently he would visit his brother Jack in Northfield and maintained his contact with his friends through the Northfield VFW.  He loved seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gene loved his Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Golden Gophers. He spent time watching their progress keeping track of their seasons. He is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings: sisters Eleanore Engstrom and Lois Freeman; bothers Allen, Jack, James, and stepson Michael Karow.