Kenneth Sippy, devoted husband and father, died Sunday January 22, 2017 at the Hospice Care Center of Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, IA, with his family in attendance.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John XXIII Parish, Fairfax, Iowa at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28th, 2017 with Father Vu officiating. Friends and family may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 27, 2017 at St. John XXIII. Memorials may be directed for the family to use at their discretion. Online condolences can be sent at www.hrabakfuneralhome.com .

Kenneth was born 94 years ago with his twin brother, Francis, to Dr. Burne Olin Sippy, a pioneering Chicago orthodontist and his wife Mae Dorothea (Driscoll) Sippy. As young boys, they spent summers visiting a family farm in Michigan. Kenneth had many happy years as a Boy Scout, eventually earning the distinction of Eagle Scout. He became fascinated with steam locomotives due to a train switching station near the family home in LaGrange, Ill. After the untimely death of his father at age 50, his mother moved the family back to her roots near Oxford, IA.

He attended the University of Michigan until being called to serve in the Army of the United States Corp of Engineers. He built airstrips, hospitals, roads and other assorted wartime tasks. He was stationed with the 872nd Engineer Aviation Battalion in Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, and served post war in Japan, rebuilding Atsugi airfield. He returned home to Iowa and began farming initially in the Oxford area, and later in Norway, IA. He married Kathleen Quinlan in December 1948 and was a loving husband for 68 years. He and his wife became parents of 10 children.

He was an avid reader - always well informed on scientific and technical subjects, and well able to keep up with his children's careers and pursuits. He loved steam engines and built scale models of locomotives and train cars. He and Kathleen enjoyed several vacations by train including the Colorado Rockies and a trip across Canada. As a long time Cubs fan, he was thrilled when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Football was another favorite interest and as an active member of the LaSalle High School Booster Club, he never missed a game. He loved the music of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and John Phillips Sousa which he often played at full volume while he rode his exercise bike.

He leaves behind his dear wife Kathleen Sippy and 9 of his children - Michele Gerdes, Tom (Jean) Sippy, Sheila (Larry) Trevena, Karen (Dale) Ries, Kevin (Alisa) Sippy, Brian (Marietta) Sippy, Julie (Gary) Rickert, Tim (Yvonne) Sippy, Bridget (Scott) Peters; his brother Francis' wife Rose Ann Sippy and her children Patti (David) Meade, Burne Sippy; brother and sisters-in-laws Eileen Grooms (Boulder, CO), Larry and Jean Quinlan of Marengo, IA, Mary Quinlan; 25 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Kenneth was preceded in death by his brother Francis H. and his son Francis J.

As a father he taught us the value of hard work, a good education, and that "money doesn't grow on trees". He introduced us to the comedy of Laurel and Hardy. He taught us how to build a proper Boy Scout fire, clean up a campsite, read a map, and make S'mores. He loved homemade donuts, Oreos, hand cranked ice cream, and peanut butter. He will be forever missed but not forgotten.

Our family wishes to thank the Hospice Care Center of Mercy Hospital for their compassionate care of Dad in his final days, Hospice Compassus, the staff at Legacy Memory Garden, and Solon Family Practice.