Robert Leon Lippert age 79 of Gun Lake died Friday, June 14,
Bob was born Aug. 29, 1939, in Chicago, to Leon and Sylvia Warta Lippert. Some of his fond memories from childhood include family fishing trips to the U.S. Boundary Waters, first with his father, mother, and brother, and later carrying on the tradition with his wife, Jan, and their sons. Other childhood memories included leading scrap metal drives in the Chicagoland neighborhoods to support the industrialization efforts for World War II.
Bob graduated Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo, and he served in the U.S. Army’s Infantry Division. He was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany where he played clarinet in the U.S. Army Band. Bob finished his service during the Cuban Missile Crisis while stationed in Washington D.C.
Bob began his business career with Sears Roebuck & Co., in the copyrighting department. He began a long career in the recreational marine industry that spanned almost 40 years, retiring in 2006 from Attwood Corp. (Brunswick) in Lowell.
Bob served on the Jaycees and then was elected mayor of Glendale Heights, IL. After his retirement, he was zoning enforcement administrator for Yankee Springs Township and was in the honor guard for the Wayland VFW Post No. 7581..
Bob enjoyed fishing, traveling to Germany, trap shooting, and numerous excursions to the family’s cottage in Wisconsin. Bob also enjoyed elaborate cooking, painting, duck and pheasant hunting, inventing and prototyping, and “MacGyvering” in his garage.
Bob is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jan; sons Rich (Lisa) Lippert of Burlington, NC and C. Byron (Tina) of Caledonia; grandchildren Eric, Kaitlyn, Emersen, Avarey; and nieces and nephew. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard L. Lippert, and his parents.
Visitation with family, friends, and well-wishers to remember and celebrate Bob’s life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, at the Kubiak Cook Funeral Home, 4330 18th Ave., Dorr, with Rosary from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Monday. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 1871 136th Ave, Dorr with Fr. Derda Celebrant.
There will be a graveside committal service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in Burlington, WI.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Wayland, MI VFW Post # 7581; Wayland, MI Ambulance Services; or Faith Hospice of Grand Rapids.
