Jerry Tripp

Jerry Ray Tripp, of Wiggins, Colorado, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 14, 2026, at the age of 76. Jerry was born on June 16, 1950, in Jefferson, Iowa, to Herman and Clara Tripp.

Jerry spent his childhood helping his family on the farm in Iowa. He and his brother, Cliff, would recall memories of loading thousands of turkeys for market in a single day. At the age of 10, his family moved to Hoyt, Colorado to continue their farming and livestock operation. He attended school in Wiggins and graduated from WHS in 1968. Jerry played varsity basketball all four years of high school and enjoyed reminiscing about the back-to-back championship wins in 1965 and 1966. Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Susan Gahagen, in August of 1968. For 58 years, they built a beautiful life together and raised their daughter, Sara and son, Dan.

In 1971, Jerry and Susan purchased a farm east of Wiggins and built a total confinement hog operation and alfalfa farm. Jerry loved helping his children, nieces, and nephews prepare their 4-H livestock projects for the county fair. After selling the farm in Wiggins, Jerry worked for seven years as a production manager at Smithfield Farms in Milford, Utah. He enjoyed riding ATVs and exploring the beautiful mountains around Beaver, Utah with his family and friends.

As grandchildren entered their lives, Jerry and Susan moved back to the Wiggins area, and he embarked on a new career as a realtor. Jerry’s favorite pastimes included playing blackjack in the mountains and poker at the Poker Palace in Wiggins. He especially looked forward to fall when he went hunting with his son and rode in the swather with his daughter. He also enjoyed attending his granddaughters’ school activities and watching them grow into talented young women.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Clara Tripp. He is survived by his wife, Susan Tripp of Wiggins; daughter, Sara (Steve) Kopetzky of Wiggins; son, Dan (Julie) Tripp of Fort Collins; granddaughters, Abby and Laura Kopetzky, and Hazel Tripp; and brother, Clifford Allen (Kathy) Tripp of Grand Island, Nebraska.

There will be a celebration of Jerry’s life with family and friends at a later date.

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