Oct. 13, 1937 - Jan. 15, 2015
Clement George Lipke passed away on January 15, 2015, in Fallon, Nevada. He was born in Wichita, Kansas on October 13, 1937, to George and Gertrude Lipke. He grew up on the family dairy farm and attended Clearwater High School in Clearwater, Kansas. He married Mary Ellen Ferris on April 11, 1959, and together they had six children. They settled on ten acres west of Haysville, Kansas. He formed a partnership with his cousin and began building houses in the Wichita area. In 1973, the family moved to Leoti, Kansas and Clem worked in a feedlot for a short time. While in Leoti, he met a local farmer and went to work for him running his corn farm which supplied feed to the feedlot. That Kansas farmer bought land in Harney County, Oregon and moved Clem and his family there in July 1976 to run the new farm. After the Oregon farm was sold, Clem moved into town in Burns, Oregon, and began working in the woods. When logging slowed in Harney County, Clem went back to construction and worked as a self-employed contractor. After his first marriage ended in 1987, Clem moved to Fallon Nevada, He married Berniece Adams on July 16, 1994. He and Bea enjoyed exploring the countryside around Fallon until her death in November, 2012. After Bea’s death, Clem became active in square dancing and playing in bridge tournaments with his dancing and bridge partner, Jann Carlucci. Throughout his life, he enjoyed hunting with friends, playing cards, and taking driving trips. Clem never quit working. He continued to work doing construction jobs until his death at the age of 77. Clem is survived by his daughter Deborah Arntz and her husband David, of Burns, Oregon; son Michael Lipke and his wife Esther of McMinnville, Oregon; son Mark Lipke and his wife Debbie of Moorpark, California; daughter Elizabeth Lipke and her husband Scott Hennan of Riverside, California; son Matthew Lipke and his wife Kerrie of Ankeny, Iowa; son Benjamin Lipke and his wife Lindsey Dunham of Veradale, Washington; sister Marie Hallacy and her husband Tom of Haysville, Kansas; brother Sylvester Lipke and his wife Virginia of Haysville, Kansas; brother Dennis Lipke and his wife Sherrie of Haysville, Kansas. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, one great grandson and various nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at the Eagles Lodge in Fallon on January 31, 2015 at 11:00 am followed by a potluck luncheon. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Eagles Lodge, P.O. Box 887, Fallon, NV 89407.
