George Edward Sippel, 94

Published 11:07 am Monday, March 28, 2011

George Edward Sippel, 94, of Austin, died Friday, March 25, 2011, at the Austin Medical Center.

George Sippel

George was born July 15, 1916, to Joseph and Mary (Kolodgy) Sippel in Donnelly, Minn., and raised in Albert Lea. He graduated from Albert Lea High School. George was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. On June 10, 1937, he married M. Irene Hudson at St. Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea. She preceded him in death on Feb. 5, 1982. On April 9, 1983, he married Lucille Marie “Lucy” Kaasa. She preceded him in death on Feb. 25, 1997.

George worked at Wilson’s in Albert Lea then moved to Austin to work for the United States Department of Agriculture-Federal Meat Inspector, assigned to Hormel Foods for the majority of his career. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, the American Legion and the Cedar Valley Conservation Club. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, carpentry, fishing, hunting and spending time up north at the cabin.

Survivors include five children, Dennis of Austin, Margaret (Marty) Miland of Austin, Frederick “Fred” of Duluth, Patricia “Patty” (Jim) Kruse of Eden Prairie, Joseph “Joe” (Ruth) of Austin; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wives, Irene and Lucille; parents, Joseph and Mary Sippel; brothers, Daniel and Fred; sisters, infant-Dorothy, Victoria Shaw; son-in-law, Larry Miland; daughter-in-law, Mary O’Brien Sippel Family; grandson-in-law, Shawn Ferrin.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Joe Fogal officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 91.