Wilma Elizabeth (Grace) Dipple

Wilma Elizabeth (Grace) Dipple, 90, was ushered into the arms of Jesus her Savior on Feb. 5, 2013. He has said to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21.

Services in celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Grace Brethren Church, 3919 North Elsie St., Davenport. Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Weerts Funeral Home, Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park.

Wilma was born on Dec 20, 1922, the daughter of Homer and Irma Grace, and lived in south-central Iowa until age 14 when the family moved to Newton, Iowa. Wilma graduated from Newton Senior High School at age 17 and immediately started working at Rempp’s NAPA Auto Parts store in town as bookkeeper. During World War II, after the auto salesmen were drafted into the army, she took a job of auto parts salesperson for the Jasper County territory. During this time she met Donald Dipple, and they were engaged before he was drafted, but they waited to marry until after he had returned from service with the Marines. They married on Sept. 13, 1946. They enjoyed a wonderful life together and were married close to 55 years.

The fruits of Wilma’s productive life include eight great-grandchildren, twenty-seven grandchildren and eight children: Grace (Al) DeLay of Harrisburg PA, Dorothy (Art) Bartels of Ames, Iowa, Edie (Brad) Dukek of Marion, Iowa, Don (Annette) of Davenport, Iowa, Hal (Vickie) of Seward, Neb., Bill (Melody) of Glendale, Ariz., Dave (Judi) of Rock Island, Ill., and Sarah (Ralph) Wilcox of Dixon, Iowa. Her husband, Donald Stewart Dipple, and her parents and sister have preceded her.

Wilma was an industrious worker, always providing for her family with fresh garden vegetables, home-canned preserves and homemade clothing. For thirty years she entered her sewing, her vegetables, and her flower arrangements at the fair and took bouquets to church. She often made clothing for people who needed clothing. She had an irrepressible spirit and a contagious laugh.

Wilma wouldn’t back down when it came to the truth of the Word of God and was stalwart in her defense of the Good News of the Gospel. She led Bible studies and women’s ministries groups in the churches she was involved in. She has been an active member of the Grace Brethren Church of Davenport, Iowa, for 35 years. She loved all of her family enough to see to it that they did the right thing. Even with the ravages of Alzheimer’s, God granted her a sweet, thankful spirit and a lovely smile. She often could be heard telling each one around her how beautiful they are.

Wilma will be sorely missed; yet, it is wonderful to know that she is at peace with God and will receive her brand-new, resurrected body, free from the decline of this life. We look forward to that day when we will all be reunited in Glory with Jesus our Savior. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us,” Romans 8:18. “For momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal,” II Corinthians 4:17, 18. A memorial fund to Grace Brethren Church of Davenport has been established in her memory.

Online condolences may be expressed to Mrs. Dipple's family by visiting her obituary at www.WeertsFH.com.