Hippen, JoAnn Esther (Junker) (1932-2025)
HIPPEN, JUNKER, MEESTER
Posted By: Karen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/6/2025 at 18:00:40
JoAnn Esther Hippen, age 92, of Parkersburg, Iowa, was born the daughter of John and Rachel (Meester) Junker on December 7, 1932, at home rural Aplington, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian faith at the Colfax Presbyterian Church, rural Holland, Iowa. JoAnn attended Wellsburg High School where she and her team won the 1949 state basketball championship. After finishing high school in 1950. JoAnn continued her basketball career at AIB in Des Moines where she later graduated. JoAnn worked as a teller at a Waterloo bank prior to marriage.
On February 23, 1955, JoAnn was united in marriage with Rueben Hippen at her parents’ home near Buck Grove, southeast of Aplington. Rueben was serving in the United States Army, where he was first stationed at Ft. Hood in Killeen, TX and later at Ft. Poke in Vernon Parish, LA. After Rueben was honorably discharged, they made their home on a farm north of Aplington. In 1962 they moved to another farm, also north of Aplington and in 1965 they settled on their present farm in Buck Grove. JoAnn was a loving wife, mother and hard-working farmwife, farming alongside Rueben. She raised a large garden every year and looked forward to working in her strawberry patch.
JoAnn was a faithful member of the Hope Reformed Church in Parkersburg, where she was a member of the RCW and helped serve many luncheons. She was a wonderful cook and baker, never leaving her house hungry and her must-haves were coffee, salt and butter. She enjoyed making crafts and selling them at local craft shows and refinishing furniture. She loved the outdoors and staying on the farm as long as possible. JoAnn “Essie” enjoyed the time spent with her friends and family playing all sorts of cards and games. Most of all she loved making memories with her family, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
JoAnn passed away on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Maple Manor Village in Aplington, from natural causes. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rueben on July 1, 1995; a daughter-in-law, Deidra Hippen; her parents, John and Rachel Junker; one sister, Marian Paterni; and two brothers, Raymond and Vernon Junker.
JoAnn is survived by four children, Galen (Caryl) Hippen of Parkersburg, Gary Hippen of LaPorte City, Melinda Hippen of Cedar Rapids, and Kevin Hippen of Aplington; seven grandchildren, Koby (Evan) Capper, Haley (Brad) Cecak, Sara (Dan) George, Emily Hippen, Nathan (Denelle) Hippen, Nicole (Landon) Geater and Korrigan (Trysten) LaRue; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Hope Reformed Church in Parkersburg, with burial at the Pleasant View Cemetery rural Aplington, Iowa.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, at the Redman Funeral & Cremation Services – Parkersburg Funeral Home and one hour before services at the church.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
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