Edward Sipkema, age 77, died Wednesday, Dec. 28.
Edward was born April 25, 1939, in Allegan County, the son of Edward and Anna (VanLangen) Sipkema. Edward was married for 47 years to Margaret Marie Sprague Sipkema, who left this earth in May 2016; his brother Sid and sisters Ann Tuinstra, Jean Miller and Wilma VanHam.
Edward spent his young adult life working in many different occupations, but an opportunity presented to him to work for the Sinke Brothers Tile Business in the 1960s where he learned from the ground up to eventual co-ownership and subsequent owner of Moline Drain Tile for 42 years. He loved his job and always believed in a strong work ethic which he passed on to his family.
Edward was the most generous and caring person and would give anyone a helping hand. He was a lifelong Christian and a member of the Bradley Indian Mission Methodist Church.
Ed acquired a love and dedication for stock car racing in the early 1960s. He became an avid racing fan throughout his lifetime. This passion for racing from the local short tracks to NASCAR gave him much enjoyment and personal enrichment and he travelled the country with friends and family to support his racing friends. This love for racing also gave him an opportunity to sponsor and support local short track racing throughout West Michigan for more than 20 years.
Ed also bowled for 30-plus years in various leagues from Wayland to the Chez Ami and Wengers. Another of his favorite things to do was support the local fast-pitch ball teams in Moline for more than 30 years, Edward was the longest sponsor to the Moline Softball Association. His team, Moline Drain Tile, won many championships over the years.
He is survived by his daughter, Brenda Lynn Sipkema Kirkpatrick (Dave) and siblings, Angela Thunder Hawk, Robert Olivarri (Marsha), Tracy Gallacher (Sarah) and Phyllis Davis (Monte); grandsons Mark, David, Jason, Henry, Jeff, Monte Jr, Cody; granddaughters Samantha, Sabrina and Sarah, along with 18 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother- in-laws Steven Van Harn, DK Sprague and sister-in-law Ardis Badger.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Patty Zerbe as a wonderful and loving caregiver to both Edward and Margaret for many years.
Services for Edward will be at 11 a.m. Monday, January 2, 2017 at the Luella Collins Community Center – 419 126th Ave., Shelbyville. Interment will follow at the Bradley Indian Mission Cemetery. Edward’s family will meet with friends and relatives from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1,at the Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home, Dorr Chapel, 4330 18th St.
Memorial contributions in memory of Edward may be made to Bradley Indian Methodist Church or the Moline Softball Association.
