Obit: Zipfel, Raymond (1928 - 2003)
Transcribed by Kipp Kippenhan

----Source: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 edition of the Clark County Press

Raymond L. Zipfel

Raymond Zipfel, age 74, of Neillsville, died Sunday, Oct. 26, in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

He was born on Dec. 4, 1928 on the home farm on Maple Road in the Town of Grant. He attended school at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1947. After graduation he continued working on the family farm and he did other smaller jobs like working in the carnival, operating the movie projector at the local movie theatre, and driving a cattle truck.

On May 31, 1958 he was united in marriage to Delores Greeler at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. In 1964, along with continuing to farm, Ray began working at the Nelson Muffler factory. He retired in the early 1990's but still continued to help on the farm.

In his youth, Roy enjoyed roller skating, basketball, music, photography and movie projectors, but his main focus during his life was farming and spending time with his grandchildren.

Ray was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife, Delores; six children, Debra (Gene) Smith of Granton, Barbara (Charles) Schutz of Neillsville, Dennis (Mary Brown) Zipfel Eau Claire, Brad (Pam Reetz) Zipfel of Neillsville, Sharon (Joe Schafer) Zipfel of Reedsburg, and Marilyn (Damion Howe) Johnson of Eau Claire; 12 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Mason of Bay City, Mich.; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Timothy Biebert will officiate. Interment will be in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Honorary casket bearer is William Maxson.

Casket bearers are: Jeffrey Hart, Joshua Hart, Jason Zipfel, Wayne Greeler, David Tyler, and Mark Mayer.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Raymond's family with arrangements.