Nipp, Thomas M. 1940-2005

NIPP, BUCKLEY, BRODERSEN

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/28/2009 at 12:15:57

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, January 3, 2006

Thomas M. Nipp, 65, of Merrill, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City.

Thomas Martin Nipp was born March 29, 1940, near Struble, the son of John and Anna (Buckley) Nipp. He graduated from Merrill High School in 1958. Tom then attended Westmar College in Le Mars and NBT Business College in Sioux City. He enlisted in the United States Army on April 19, 1962. He served overseas in Japan during the Vietnam War. Tom earned an honorable discharge on March 20, 1964. He returned to the Merrill area.

On May 21, 1966, Tom and Rosie Brodersen were united in marriage in Merrill. Tom then began his career with Iowa Public Service (now MidAmerican Energy). He worked in various capacities until his retirement 30 years later. He also farmed and raised livestock after they purchased their farm south of Merrill in 1968.

Tom was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Merrill. He was an active member of the Olson-Halweg American Legion Post #125 of Merrill and held many offices throughout the years. He took great pride in hanging the American Flags on Merrill's Main Street and its cemeteries. Tom also volunteered his time as a Little League coach.

Tom's grandchildren were "the apple of his eye." He enjoyed farming, fishing, football, playing cards and visiting with his many friends. Cheering for his beloved Notre Dame Fighting Irish was his favorite pastime. The Nipp farm was filled with love and laughter and was a second home to many. Tom's nickname was "Neighbor" and he was known to almost everyone by this name.

Survivors include his wife, Rosie of Merrill; two daughters, Kristi Knous and her husband, Lauren of Urbandale, and Kelli Bloom and her husband, Aaron of Becker, Minn.; four grandchildren, Abbey and Jonah Knous and Alison and Emily Bloom; a sister, Colleen Smith and her husband, Stuart of Cherokee; brothers, Bob Nipp and his wife, Andree of Falls Church, Va., Bernard Nipp and his wife, Peg of Downey, Calif., Don Nipp and his wife, Dorothy of Riverside, Calif., Johnny Nipp of Bellflower, Calif., and Ray Nipp of Le Mars; his mother-in-law, Mildred Brodersen of Le Mars; four sisters-in-law, Bev Byroad, Norma Lash and her husband, Bruce, Noreen Bohl and her husband, Gregg, and Jan Wrase and her husband, Norm; and he was beloved uncle Tom to numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Eunice Nipp; a sister-in-law, Delores Nipp; and his father-in-law, Oscar Brodersen.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Merrill. The Rev. Nickolas L. Becker will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Mauer - Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars with a scriptural prayer service at 7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to Mass on Wednesday.

Memorials may be directed to the Merrill Cemeteries American Flag Fund in care of Iowa Prairie Bank in Merrill.