Herman Wipf: 1934-2021
Herman J. Wipf, 87, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sept. 14, 2021, and will be missed by his family, wonderful friends and kind neighbors. A memorial service was held Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the Bethany Mennonite Church of Freeman, S.D.
Herman was born on Aug. 25, 1934, on the family farm 6½ miles west of Freeman to Jacob E. and Susanna (Stahl) Wipf. He graduated from Walz School District #87 and attended Freeman Academy until his full-time help was required on the family farm. One cherished lesson he learned as a young boy was changing the oil on his dad’s tractor. His love for old tractors and trading farm equipment stayed with him his entire life.
Herman loved people, especially making new acquaintances at auction sales, the Pioneer Power Show, and by placing ads for buying and selling equipment in the newspaper. He also had a knack for seeing others who needed help and making sure they got it (even being pushy at times). Besides farming, Herman worked for his brother, Jack, at his farm implement business, took seminars in salesmanship, and took his nickname “Wheeler Dealer” to heart.
Herman was baptized by his uncle, Rev. Peter J. Stahl, and became a member of the Hutterdorf Church and later Bethany Mennonite where he served on the Board of Trustees.
Herman was married to Inez Aisenbrey on Sept. 5, 1954 at Zion Reformed Church by Rev. William Korn. They purchased the family farm where they raised their family, and then moved to Freeman in 1998.
Herman passed away after a short stay at Freeman hospital and Oakview Terrace after a mini stroke caused a slow decline over the last year, but he never complained about this.
Herman is survived by his wife, Inez, of Freeman; a son Randy (Jill) Wipf, of Leander, Texas; a daughter Liza (Guy) Larson of Yankton, S.D.; granddaughters Rachel (Ben) Mouton of Cedar Park, Texas and Andrea Wipf of Leander; grandson Andrew Larson of Oakland, Calif.; great-grandchildren Cade and Collette Mouton of Cedar Park, Texas; and a sister, Naomi Braun, of Albia, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Barbara Wipf, Mary Schmeichel, Kathryn Wolf, Elizabeth Gross, Susie Hofmann, and Dorothy in infancy; brothers Jack Wipf Jr. and Elias in infancy; and brothers-in-law: Ferd Gross, Judson Wolf, Eldon Schmeichel, Norman Braun and LaVern Aisenbrey.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Bethany Food Pantry, 509 S. Juniper St., Freeman, SD 57029.
