Kathy Reiprich

WEBSTER – Kathy Reiprich 64 of Webster passed away peacefully Saturday December 14, 2019 at Sanford Hospital in Webster. Mass Of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. Friday December 20, 2019 at Christ The King Catholic Church in Webster. Spring inurnment will be at St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery near Webster. Memorial visitation will be 5-7P.M. Thursday with a 6:00 P.M. wake service at the funeral home. The family requests casual attire for visitation and the Funeral Mass in honor of Kathy. Kathleen (Kathy) Dawn Reiprich passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 14, 2019 at Sanford Hospital in Webster, SD. Kathy was born November 22, 1955 to George Eugene (Gene) and Margaret Mary (Klein) Hommel in Webster, SD. She was raised with nine siblings on the family dairy farm in Rusk Township. Kathy was baptized at St. Otto’s Catholic Church and confirmed at Christ the King Catholic Church. She attended school at St. Otto’s Catholic School until 6th grade followed by Webster School District until she graduated in 1974. On June 7, 1985, Kathy was united in marriage to Freddie Gustav Reiprich. The couple resided in Day County roughly one mile from the Hommel farmstead where Kathy was raised. To this union two children were born, Jessica (Jessie) and Curtis (Curty). The family was blessed with the addition of Shawn Wik and Shannon Lehman, as well as three grandchildren who she adored and “loved to the moon and back,” Gage, Carlee and Logan Wik, and a special granddog, Gator. The Hommel kids rode dairy cows until their father bought them two ponies named Smokey and Dusty. Gene told those horse crazy kids that their horse obsession would be short lived, but boy was he wrong. Kathy’s lifelong passion for horses led her to raise and train paint and quarter horses that she had most of her life. She passed on her horse obsession to her daughter and grandchildren. Kathy was devoted to the 4-H program, especially partial to the 4-H horse project. Kathy was a 4-H leader in Day County for 25 years, and enjoyed helping her grandchildren come up with their own 4-H project ideas. Kathy helped on the Hommel family farm her entire life. Her favorite jobs were mowing, raking and baling hay, and being able to haul the hay home on her John Deere 4020 tractor. Kathy enjoyed her cattle and fixing fence, and had many humorous stories about life on the farm. Kathy was devoted to the All American Saddle Club, served on the Rusk Township Board and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and Altar Society, and taught CCD for many years. Kathy retired from the Webster School District’s kitchen on December 5, 2019 after 25 years. Kathy enjoyed playing cards and was very competitive in Whist, Hearts, and Up the River. Kathy was usually the scorekeeper and somehow happened to win most of the time. Kathy’s creative and artistic side showed with her love of doodling. She loved taking the grandchildren on 4-wheeler rides and sneaking them off to the “secret” lake. Kathy was a great cook, with her specialties being an amazing apple pie and a wonderful Thanksgiving stuffing. Random road trips were a favorite activity of Kathy’s, especially when it included a good mocha latte. You could find Kathy at many rummage and auction sales in her search for treasures and “garden art.” Kathy had an amazing green thumb that was evident in her beautiful flower gardens that she had adorned with angels and her “garden art.” She enjoyed annual trips to Lou’s Greenhouse to pick out flowers to attract the butterflies and dragonflies that she loved. In the spring, Kathy was excited to plant the new trees she selected for the shelterbelts. Every year, Kathy had a huge garden and took great pride in growing pumpkins for her grandchildren. The tomatoes and flowers grown in heaven by Margaret and Kathy will be beautiful. She was preceded in death by her parents Gene and Margaret Hommel, father and mother-in-law Herbert and Rose Reiprich, sister Carol Hommel, brother-in-law Brian Jespersen, brother and sister-in-law John and Janice Koppe, nephews Joshua and Jeremiah Hommel, and niece Sandy Rohl. She is survived by her spouse, Freddie; children Jessie and Shawn Wik of Miller and Curtis Reiprich and Shannon Lehman of Webster; Grandchildren Gage, Carlee, and Logan Wik of Miller; Brothers Tom Hommel of Bristol, Mike Hommel of Webster, Jim Hommel of Webster; Sisters Mary and Ron Sjerven of Pierre, Joann and Don Donley of Groton, Pam Hommel of Webster, Jane Hommel of Pullman, WA, and Jean and Lyle Kessler of Mina; Brother-in-Laws Dennis Reiprich of Webster and Loren and Debbie Reiprich of Webster; as well as a host of nieces and nephews. We love you, Mom.