Ray E. Lipker

Funeral Services for Ray E. Lipker will be conducted from the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with Vicar B.J. Fouts and Reverend Don Jenkins, officiating. Interment will be in the Orleans Cemetery at Orleans, Nebraska.

Ray E. Lipker, 77 years of age, of Oxford, (formerly of Alma, Nebraska) passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at Christian Homes in Holdrege, Nebraska. Ray was born May 25, 1930 on a farm in Thayer County, near Davenport, Nebraska, the eldest of four children of Ernest C. and Hannah V. (Ross) Lipker. He was baptized on May 29, 1930 and later confirmed on April 2, 1944. He received his primary education at District #1 in Thayer County and then attended Kiowa Bethlehem Parochial School in Kiowa, Nebraska and later in life worked to obtain his G.E.D. in the Air Force. On July 13, 1951 he was inducted into the United States Air Force and served his country until his honorable discharge on July 13, 1955.

Following his military service, Ray was employed by Central Airlines in various cities in airline ticket sales. On February 3, 1957 he was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Everhart at the Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church at Kiowa and to this union two children were born: Darwin Ray and Cynthia Sue. The family made their home in various towns in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, where Ray worked in the Insurance Business, as a Heavy Equipment Operator and a Truck Driver. Ray was employed by Thayer County at Hebron, Nebraska, Alma Oil Company at Alma, Nebraska, the Becker Corporation in Phillipsburg, Kansas and Hi-Tech Ag in Wilcox, Nebraska. Following his retirement, Ray and Shirley continued to reside in Alma, where he worked part-time for Cargill Inc., Nelson Farms, Roger's Hereford Ranch and Kip's Tractor Repair. In 2003 the couple moved to Oxford.

He was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, attended the St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford and was very active in his church in Davenport teaching Sunday School. Ray was also a member of the American Legion and V.F.W., he was a Cub Scout leader and enjoyed listening to country music, playing his guitar and spending time with his family.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Shirley of Oxford; daughter, Cindy Kaup and her husband, Donn of Oxford; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Tonya Lipker of Elwood, Nebraska; two sisters: LaMira Mueller and her husband, Alfred of Superior, Nebraska, Rosella Schroeder and her husband, Bob of Hebron, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Darwin in 2006 and one brother, Virgil Lipker.

Visitation will be prior to the service at the church. A memorial has been established in his memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.