- December 4, 2025
Wilbur Eugene Lippert passed peacefully into heaven on the evening of June 12, 2025 with family by his side. His faithfulness, stewardship, generosity, resillience, kindness and positive outlook on life set an example for all who knew him. Wilbur was born on July 17, 1929 to Richard and Emma Lippert at Trinity Hospital in Jamestown, ND. Wilbur grew up on the family farm with his older brother, James. He had fond memories of his childhood and especially enjoyed being around the animals, machinery, barns and windmills that were a part of farm life. He completed his schooling through 8th grade in a one room schoolhouse in Lippert Township, then attended Eldridge School and Jamestown High School. After graduating from high school in 1947, Wilbur worked as a bank teller in Jamestown. He recalled cashing paychecks on Fridays and delivering cash to the post office which involved carrying a small revolver handgun in his pants pocket for security. He was generous with his earnings. He loved giving gifts and took his mother on a train trip to Yellowstone National Park. He gifted his father with a beautiful engraved pocket watch. In 1951, at the age of 22, he was drafted. He shipped out to Indiantown Gap, PA for basic training. From there he went to New York where he boarded a troop ship to Italy, stopping in Casablanca, Naples and Greece. On March 29, 1952 he joined Trieste United States Troops (TRUST) whose mission was to keep peace at the border of Italy and Yugoslavia. He described his unit as “spit and polish”. He took pride in always looking “sharp”. Wilbur made the most of his time abroad and took leave in Venice and Milan. On August 7, 1953 he wrote to his parents that he was thrilled to see the ship that would bring him home and that he felt “mighty happy”. Upon his return, he enrolled in North Dakota Agricultural College, now NDSU, in Fargo ND. It was there at the Crystal Ballroom that he met his future wife, Grace Winge. They were engaged on June 1, 1957 and on June 10 Wilbur graduated from NDSU. He accepted a job with Kemper Insurance in Chicago, IL and moved to Evanston IL. During their long distance engagement they had “many wonderful visits”. On June 28, 1958, they were married at First Lutheran Church in Litchville, ND. The newlyweds made their home in Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. There they added two daughters to their family; first Muriel Jean and then Nancy Ann. Wilbur’s career included stints at Chicago Bridge and Iron, Horton Process Division and Oak Park Trust and Savings Bank. Grace had a career as a Surgical Technician so Wilbur was a very active dad, often in charge of meals and keeping the girls entertained. He was a doting father and nothing was too good for his girls.
Wilbur and Grace celebrated as Nancy married John Walsh in 1984 and Muriel married Paul Schauer in 1986. Between 1985 and 1992 they were blessed with five grandchildren. With Muriel’s family in North Dakota and Nancy’s in Palm Coast, there were many visits made. Wilbur retired in 1995 and in 1998, Wilbur and Grace bought a townhome home in Palm Coast. They became snowbirds, enjoying extended visits with Nancy’s family and their Palm Coast “framily” every winter. In the fall of 2017, Wibur and Grace sold their house in Elmhurst and purchased one in their home state of North Dakota. Grace passed away shortly after, in March of 2018. Muriel moved in with Wilbur soon after, then she passed away suddenly in June of 2020. He was heartbroken but carried on, living independently in his North Dakota home. Muriel’s daughter, Emma, checked in on him regularly and Nancy visited often. He continued to spend winters in his Florida townhome and while there enjoyed finding projects to do that benefitted his Kings Colony neighborhood. He regularly attended St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, shopped at Publix and Winn Dixie, exercised at Fitness One and enjoyed meals out at Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel. He spent many evenings and had multiple adventures with Nancy and John. He loved baking and sharing his homemade banana bread and peanut butter cookies with friends and neighbors. After returning to his North Dakota home in February 2023, Wilbur suffered a stroke. Needing rehabilitation and assistance with daily living, he became a resident of Baptist Health in Bismarck. He worked hard to recover and regained use of his left hand which enabled him to resume handwritten correspondence with his many pen pals. Baptist was very near to his home so he was able to make frequent visits there to host get togethers, celebrate holidays, do some baking or enjoy a homecooked meal. He was also able take trips in town to some of his favorite places. He had frequent visits from family and friends and he was surrounded by them during his last days. The family wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone near and far for your love and support of Wilbur. Wilbur was predeceased by his parents, Richard George and Emma Suzanne Elizabeth (Clemens) Lippert, his brother and sister in law, James Richard and Bernice (Whitney) Lippert, his wife Grace Lucille Winge Lippert, his daughter, The Reverend Muriel Jean Lippert, brothers and sisters in law Ralph and Jane (nee Williamson) Winge, Herb Winge
Wilbur is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and John Walsh (Palm Coast, FL); his grandchildren, Lauren and Byron Lewis (Farmington, UT), Alex and Christine Ghilain Walsh (Randolph, NJ), Maureen Walsh (Orlando, FL), Michael and Emma (Schauer) Berg (Wilton, ND), Eric Schauer and Valerie Kane (Springdale, AR) and his great-grandchildren, Harper and Kennedy Lewis and Claire Ghilain Walsh. He is also survived by two nephews and three nieces.
