----Source: Wednesday, October 29, 2003 edition of the Tribune - Record - Gleaner

Raymond Zipfel

Raymond L. Zipfel, 74, Neillsville, died Sunday, Oct. 26, in the Palliative Care Unit of Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neillsville. The Rev. Timothy Biebert officiated. Burial was in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers was William Maxson. Pallbearers were Jeffrey Hart, Joshua Hart, Jason Zipfel, Wayne Greeler, David Tyler, and Mark Mayer.

Raymond Louis Zipfel was born on Dec. 4, 1928, in the Town of Grant. He attended school at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neillsville and graduated from Neillsville High School in 1947. After graduation he continued working on the family farm and did other smaller jobs like working at the carnival, operating the movie projector at the local theatre, and driving a cattle truck. He married Delores Greeler on May 31, 1958 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neillsville. In 1964, along with continuing to farm, he began working at the Nelson Muffler factory. He retired in the early 1990's but still continued to help on the farm. His interests included roller skating, basketball, music, photography. movie projectors, farming, and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Neillsville.

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

The Gesche Funeral Home, Neillsville, assisted the family with arrangements.