Rose Marie Ripka Kimlinger, 82, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota to the late Rudolph Ripka and Clara VanderHeyden Ripka. She passed away on February 24, 2023, in Bradenton, Florida. Rose married her beloved husband Ron Kimlinger in 1960, and raised five children in St. Paul, Minnesota and Arlington Heights, Illinois, before moving to Gainesville, Florida.
She worked at Arlington Toyota in Illinois and at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she was a professorial secretary in the IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and where she developed her love of all Florida Gator sports. She attended many football, basketball, volleyball, softball and gymnastic events.
Rose’s faith was very important to her, and she was a member of the local Catholic Church wherever she lived. She spent many years as the Queen of Peace Parish Coordinator for the Gainesville Family Promise Program, providing room and board to families in the community who need help getting back on their feet. She was also an avid gardener and was very active in the Gainesville Garden Club, spending many hours as their historian archiving past years’ activities.
She will be missed by all those that knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Ron; she is survived by her five children Dave Kimlinger (Darlene Rogers), Island Lake, Illinois; Mary Kimlinger, Bradenton, Florida; Bob Kimlinger, Ft. Myers, Florida; Joe Kimlinger (Sheila Manion), Shiloh, Illinois; and John Kimlinger (Debbie Allen), Gainesville, Florida. She also had many adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to Family Promise of Gainesville (https://www.familypromisegvl.org/) or the charity of one’s choice. A memorial mass will be held at 10:00 AM, March 24th, 2023, at Queen of Peace Catholic Community Church, 10900 SW 24th Avenue, Gainesville FL. She will be laid to rest following the service, alongside her husband at Forest Meadows Cemetery on 39th Ave. in Gainesville.
I will miss you, Big sister. I’ll always remember all the fun stuff we did as kids, but more importantly our later years where we shared time together, vacations, cruise, and visits to Florida.
Spread a big chunk of butter on a piece of bread, and have a large chocolate malt for desert.
Love you always,
My sincere sympathy in the loss of precious Rose Marie. She was my cousin and we spent a lot time together at many family gatherings when we were young. She was a special lady I loved her dearly!!
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time!!
Joe, Sheila and theKiplinger’s family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. May your dear mother rest in peace in the arms of angels tonight.
So sorry for your loss.
I met Rose in the Wildflower group and always enjoyed her company. She was always laughing and making some sly comment about what was happening around her. She is missed.
I’m sure she is with her loved ones in heaven with no earthly cares!
Kit, Terry, Jane, and Kimlinger families,
I am so fortunate to have been able to spend so much time with Rose sharing our genealogy. She was so knowledgeable about family trees and recording memories. It led me to write a book about my ancestors including, of course, the story of the Blazeks. I too was blessed with being able to share my faith with Rose. When I visited her in the Gainesville area it was special to go to Mass with her and to see all she was doing for so many people. She was truly a smart, kind, loving, and beautiful person. I will send a contribution to Family Promise of Gainesville in her memory.
Love, your second cousin, Gen
God Bless Rose and the family and friends she leaves behind. From the night we beacame bowling partners back in 1986 we became instant friends with both Ron and Rose. Friendship is priceless however we became family 💗 I will miss you always ,especially your nudge in scrabble when I got behind . In all this sorrow I know Rose and Ronzo are back together again in the arms of our Lord 🙏🏻