Robert Richard WHIPPLE

WHIPPLE, THOMPSON, CLAUDE, SAVOY, MOORE, NELSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/4/2010 at 11:36:09

May 13, 1943 -- November 30, 2010

BELMOND, IA — Robert “Bob” R. Whipple, 67, of Belmond and formerly a longtime resident of Britt, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, at the Belmond Medical Center, Belmond. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Belmond United Methodist Church in Belmond. The Rev. Michael Druhl will be officiating. Burial with full military honors, provided by the Belmond Military Unit, will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30-7:30 p.m. today (Friday, Dec. 3) at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday, Dec. 4. Those wishing to express their sympathy through a memorial in Bob’s name may wish to direct them in care of the family or their own choice.

Robert “Bob” Richard Whipple was born May 13, 1943, in Belmond. He was raised by his parents, Duane “Red” and Anita (Thompson) Whipple, in Belmond, where he attended Belmond Community Schools. During his school years he was very active in extracurricular activities and was an excellent athlete. He loved sports and was accomplished on both the gridiron and on the track. Bob won the state football throw and was a terrific football player. Bob was known for a famous trick play known as “The Whipple Special” where Bob would convert from the offensive line as a tackle to quarterback on a tossback and then use his rifle arm to lead his beloved teammates down the field for the score or a big gainer. Bob also made a name for himself in track and field, where he had placed on a state level in the discus and was a placewinner in the Drake Relays.

Bob graduated from Belmond High School with the Class of 1961. Upon graduating he would enlist in the United States Navy in June of 1961 with a bit of influence from his uncle, Ray Thompson, who was chief of police and had caught Bob painting the local water tower. While in the service Bob was united in marriage to Lois Claude on June 8, 1961, at the Church of Christ in Clarion. Following their marriage the couple lived in Key West, Fla., where Bob was stationed, and later moved to Washington, D.C. During his military tenure Bob spent much of his time in the Naval Air Corps and Naval squadrons. He was honorably discharged as an AE-3 (E-4) after four proud years of service to his country on June 25, 1965. Upon returning to civilian life Bob commenced a career spanning more than 37 years in the electric and power industry. He and Lois first made their home in Nevada for a short time before moving to Britt, where they raised their children, Rob, Roxanne and Rick. Bob was a lineman for Iowa Electric (today’s Alliant Energy) for a number of years before a boom truck accident and injuries sustained from the mishap mandated that Bob change positions within the company. Bob would fulfill various supervisory and management positions within the company with much of his knowledge and skills focused on the environmental sector of his profession. During his years with Iowa Electric/Alliant Energy, Bob continued his education by completing two years of college at NIACC. Bob retired from Alliant at age 59.

In the early 1980s Bob and Lois owned and operated Whipple’s Sight and Sound, an electronics and TV sales and service store, in Britt for a time. Being a man who loved to remain active in all areas of his life, he continued to work in various occupations. Bob spent a number of years working at Belmond Labs doing soil sampling. He was then employed by the city of Belmond as a groundskeeper at the Belmond Cemetery where he proudly and meticulously maintained and manicured the property. Bob drove bus for the mentally and physically impaired with Krysilis Inc.. In 2003, his and Lois’ entrepreneurial spirit and love of people once again led the couple to open and operate Double Dip Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Belmond. To the delight of hundreds of people through the region they decided to expand the business with the addition of a mobile ice cream van. They traveled the countryside bringing their delicious ice cream delights to the neighborhoods, community events and other occasions throughout the region. Their outgoing personalities brought warmth to whatever event they were participating in. They sold the Double Dip Ice Cream business in 2009. In recent times Bob, along with his teammate Lois, were involved in the sales area of CDI and FHP Inc. in Belmond, a position they both enjoyed as it allowed them to travel about and, of course, the flexibility to attend family happenings that were a priority in their lives.

Bob’s love for others and the communities he called home could be seen in his many years of service to the Britt Jaycees, in his leadership as a member of the Britt Country Club Board of Directors and his various roles with the Belmond Lions Club, where one of his pet projects was helping to orchestrate the Annual Lions Club Toy Show Auction. Bob was actively involved in the Britt United Methodist Church and Belmond United Methodist Church, where he had served as a trustee. He was a life long member of the VFW and American Legion. Another personal accomplishment he was quite proud of was when he was secretary for astronaut James Lovell.

Bob was truly a Good Samaritan who loved to lend his labors, talents and knowledge to his family and neighbors. He truly enjoyed giving of his time to those who needed a hand with any task, no matter how big or small. He seemed to always find time for others and did so without expecting anything in return for his assistance. He enjoyed visiting, socializing, dining out and the occasional trip to the track or casino. He never met a stranger he couldn’t visit with and was very much a people person. Bob’s unselfish love for others could only be overshadowed by his boundless love for his wife, Lois, his children and his grandchildren. He was their number one fan in all aspects of their lives. He and his life teammate Lois were always there for one another in the game of life no matter what curves it might throw at them. Over the years, the two would travel about the country to be in the bleachers or seats of the athletic events and other activities of their children and grandchildren. Even as recently as the evening before Bob passed away they had made the trek between several towns to attend two different grandchildren’s sporting events. Bob was truly his family’s number one cheerleader in life.

Of course, his family and friends will always remember his fiery passion for various sports events he attended and his strong views of the happenings of these games where one might hear Bob sharing his perspectives of the situation with the referees on the field or court. He might even stroll with them off the field, bending their ears about the calls of the game. He might even have enjoyed ruffling the refs’ feathers and stripes from time to time. He will now be able to look over their shoulders and be the “Guardian Cheerleader” for his family. Bob’s love of sports continued throughout his entire life as he participated in slow pitch softball leagues in earlier years, was an active bowler and of course had a great passion and skill for golf, including winning the Britt Country Club Championship in 1983. He was a avid Cyclones fan and Kansas City Chiefs fan. Over the years his family remembers many exciting and adventurous vacations with Bob and Lois, often referring to the them as the “National Lampoon’s” Whipple Family vacations. Bob, Lois and family enjoyed camping trips and going on various other trips, including Las Vegas and Hawaii. One of Bob’s most favorite pastimes was taking the grandchildren on fishing excursions. Of course if boating was a part of the occasion Bob and the family always knew it might be more than just an outing, rather, a true adventure on the water. Bob will be remembered by all who crossed in the path way of his life journey as a genuine and devoted family man who thoroughly loved all life had to offer. His great laugh and innate sense of humor will be dearly missed. His family will miss his boisterous cheering over their shoulders, but will gain strength in knowing he is now their “Guardian Angel and Cheerleader.”

His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of his wife and life partner of nearly 50 years, Lois Whipple, Belmond; son, Rob (Deb) Whipple, Baltic, S.D.; daughter, Roxanne (Steve) Savoy, Britt; and a son, Rick (Dodi) Whipple, Garner; his beloved grandchildren, Megan, Molly, Daniel and Marissa Whipple, Brookelyn and Jordan Savoy, Dane, Max and Payton Whipple; Bob’s sister, Kathy (Joe) Moore, Plymouth; and a brother, Dennis (Lori) Whipple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Also, numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends, He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandmother, Helen Nelson; and grandfather, Richard Thompson; paternal grandparents, Grant and Ruby Whipple; and a sister-in-law, Linda Whipple. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

December 3, 2010
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa