Irene Elaine Tripp
April 3, 1942 – July 14, 2024
Born in Galesburg, Illinois
I always thought my mother would live forever; she was just too darn stubborn to give in. I should have known her huge heart couldn’t last eternally. The only silver lining is that it happened quickly; she passed at her family home. She always burned bright; one of her favorite memories was being a majorette at Galesburg High School.
Irene was born April 3, 1942, in Galesburg, Illinois to Clarence Walter and Ruth Oleen Johnson. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1960 and began a career in cosmetology and beauty; she graduated from Burlington Beauty Academy in Burlington, Iowa in 1962. She always looked her best and made others feel amazing! She married Donald Wayne Tripp from Ft Madison, Iowa on August 29, 1965. Even though their marriage didn’t last forever, they became friends again when Don was fighting his own battle with cancer; he passed away on November 28, 2007. Don’s family always loved Irene; she was a proud member of the Tripp family.
I think Irene’s greatest pleasure came from her obsession with basketball. She watched every game she could; she loved watching the players (especially LeBron James), learning their individual stats and backgrounds, and knowing so much about every team. We enjoyed a long weekend in Cleveland watching the Cleveland Cavaliers (after LeBron returned) play the Miami Heat and then a couple of days later the Cavs played the Chicago Bulls.
Irene returned to Galesburg in 1996 to take care of her ailing Father, Clarence, until he passed away in 2004, just shy of his 101st birthday. She stayed in the home she grew up in and enjoyed gardening, meals out with her sister, Marilyn, and reading. She was also able to travel to the UK and France where she was able to see the Mona Lisa, something she’d always wanted to do. She was an incredible cook with family favorites (Swedish butter tea cookies – yum!) continuing to be made and loved by her grandchildren. She also loved animals, the only invited disruption to looking her best; she wore their shed hair as a badge of honor. Her long-haired American Eskimo, Tazz, being her favorite hair to wear. Animals always loved her too.
Irene was also phenomenally good at cursive – a lost art! I was always envious of every handwritten note and letter; I’ve never seen a better signature. She still wrote checks and sent them on birthdays and graduations. I marveled at her beautiful writing and penmanship.
Left to honor her memory are one daughter (me), Kimberly L. Randal; my husband, Paul, and our two girls: Kiera and Katelyn – her grandchildren – of which she was so proud. She loved cracking jokes with Paul; I loved their mutual laughter on calls and FaceTime. She’s also the only one who he’s let cut his hair; I’m not sure what’s going to happen moving forward. She is also survived by the Tripp family, numerous cousins, her sister, Marilyn Jones and Marilyn’s girls, her nieces, along with their husbands and children (2 grandnieces and 2 grandnephews). She was a quiet and private person but loved her close family and friends fiercely. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
Cremation was accorded. No visitation or services per her request. She will be laid to rest by her Mother, Ruth and her Father, Clarence at the Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in New Windsor, Illinois. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
