William Joseph Kipen Sr. died Tuesday, Sept. 24. He was 82.
Bill served his country in the US Army in Vietnam, where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He retired after 25 years of service from Country Fresh Dairy. He enjoyed farming, woodworking, fishing, telling stories, and traveling – especially to the Upper Peninsula.
He is survived by his children Melissa (Rich) King, Bill Kipen Jr., Michelle (Eric) Harnish, Kristina (Scott) Scofield; 15 grandchildren Jonathan “Bubba” Kipen, Tara King, Jason Kipen, April Kipen, Richard (Laci) King, Marissa (Brian) Jacobs, Mikayl (Kimberly) Kipen, Hailey Kipen, Kendra (Ryan) Beals, ShyAnn Modrak, Erica Bryan, Sarah DeMond, Chad Kipen, Brittany Kipen, James Kipen; 27 great-grandchildren; siblings Louise Kiel, Linda Andres, Susan (Craig) Welton, Bettie (Cal) Schaeffer; in-laws Louise Kipen, Butch Simons, and Larry Goodman; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Adam and Edna Kipen; son, James Adam Kipen; the mother of his children, Sally Kipen; brothers John, Eugene, Dick Kipen; sisters Dolores Gensler, Marilyn Steffes, Ellen Simons, and Jayne Goodman.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at St. Mary’s Visitation Catholic Church, 2459 146th Ave., Byron Center. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, 4330 18th Ave., Dorr, with a Rosary at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Burial and military honors will be held following mass at St. Mary’s Visitation Cemetery.
