Donald J. Nipp, 85, of Le Mars, passed away on Monday, July 24, 2017 at Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017 at All Saints Catholic Parish-St. Joseph’s Church in Le Mars. The Reverend Bruce Lawler will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Merrill. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 27 with the family present from 5:30-7:30 and a Rosary at 7:30, all at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will resume one hour before the Mass on Friday at the church. Expressions of sympathy may be directed through www.mauerjohnsonfh.com
Donald James Nipp was born on March 12, 1932 in Irene, South Dakota, the son of John L and Anna C. (Buckley) Nipp. He grew up and attended school in Struble, Merrill and Le Mars, Iowa. He received most of his education at St. Joseph Catholic School (now Gehlen Catholic) in Le Mars. As a young man, Don served his country in the United States Army for three years. After receiving his honorable discharge, he took a position with the railroad. In 1956, Don moved to Southern California and continued to work for the railroad for 17 more years. He was then employed by the County of Riverside for 25 years.
Donald was married to Delores J. Kitsch of Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. They had one son, Patrick J. Nipp. Don and Delores were married for 35 years at the time of her death. Don later married Dorothy C. Morris from Orange, California who was originally from Dunkirk, Indiana. They were married in September of 1998 and lived in both Riverside, California and Le Mars, Iowa.
Don has been an active member of the Knights of Columbus since 1957 and was a 4th Degree Knight. He also was a member of the American Legion and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glen Avon, California, Assumption Parish in Merrill, Iowa and All Saints Parish in Le Mars. He has been a resident at Happy Siesta in Remsen, Iowa since August of 2013.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Dorothy of Le Mars, IA; his son, Patrick J. Nipp, grandson, Joshua (Amanda) Nipp and three great-grandchildren of Riverside, CA, a brother, Bernard E. Nipp of Downey, CA; a sister, Colleen (Stuart) Smith of Cherokee, IA; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Delores; sister, Eunice Nipp; brothers, Thomas, Raymond, John and Robert Nipp.
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