1959
Brian
2012
Brian Tipka
February 28, 1959 — September 13, 2012
Brian A. Tipka, 53, of Litchfield, died September 13 after a courageous and inspiring life lived with Type 1 juvenile diabetes.
The Memorial Service will be Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 504 N Gilman Ave in Litchfield, MN. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church, from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar, MN.
Brian was born February 28, 1959 to Arnold and Rona (Nelson) Tipka in Litchfield, MN. He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in 1973. He graduated from Litchfield High School, class of 1977. He married Bernadette "Bernie" Ziebart in 1980. He worked as a manager at the Country Kitchen in Litchfield until he lost his vision. Through the efforts of the Litchfield Lion's Club he was gifted his beloved leader dog, Katie in 1983. He then completed training with the Minneapolis Society for the Blind and a special program that gives blind people the opportunity to operate food stands in federal and state buildings. He was the manager of food services at the Fergus Fall Community College. During which time he was featured in an episode of "On the Road with Jason Davis". He than moved to Minneapolis where he ran a successful food vending machine company in the Minneapolis Public Library and Butler Square, until health issues forced him to retire.
Brian loved to play bingo, read, listen to music, pass on jokes of questionable taste and content, and find new and exciting things to do on his many computers. There wasn't a Smelt Fry in the area that he didn't love! He also liked to challenge himself to do new things, the most recent, wild turkey hunting with "Midwest Outdoors Unlimited" at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. He touched many lives and will be fondly remembered by family and friends for his courage, positive upbeat attitude, sense of humor and his ability to make "lemons into lemonade". Brian's philosophy in life was "When you have a disability, it isn't can you do it? It's how are you going to do it? I just find an alternative to doing what everyone else does."
He survived by his loving father, Arnold Tipka, of Litchfield; his brothers, Garmon (Anne) Tipka of Spicer, MN and Barry (Dee) Tipka of Lakeville, MN; and his nieces and nephews, Ian and Devin Rea and Josh, Jake and Anna Tipka.
While Brian received many visits from family and friends through the years, he observed that not all his fellow residents at the Emmanuel Nursing Home did. In lieu of flowers, Brian has requested that you befriend, and spend time with residents of nursing homes, the disabled and the handicapped.
The family would like to thank the staff at Emmanuel Nursing Home of Litchfield for their 23+ years of loving and exceptional care they gave Brian. You were like family to him. There are not words adequate enough to express our gratitude to the entire staff. We would also like to thank Dr. Dave Detert for the professional care and friendship he had shown Brian through the years. He will be missed.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Rona Tipka and his beloved dog, Katie.
The Memorial Service will be Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 504 N Gilman Ave in Litchfield, MN. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church, from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar, MN.
Brian was born February 28, 1959 to Arnold and Rona (Nelson) Tipka in Litchfield, MN. He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in 1973. He graduated from Litchfield High School, class of 1977. He married Bernadette "Bernie" Ziebart in 1980. He worked as a manager at the Country Kitchen in Litchfield until he lost his vision. Through the efforts of the Litchfield Lion's Club he was gifted his beloved leader dog, Katie in 1983. He then completed training with the Minneapolis Society for the Blind and a special program that gives blind people the opportunity to operate food stands in federal and state buildings. He was the manager of food services at the Fergus Fall Community College. During which time he was featured in an episode of "On the Road with Jason Davis". He than moved to Minneapolis where he ran a successful food vending machine company in the Minneapolis Public Library and Butler Square, until health issues forced him to retire.
Brian loved to play bingo, read, listen to music, pass on jokes of questionable taste and content, and find new and exciting things to do on his many computers. There wasn't a Smelt Fry in the area that he didn't love! He also liked to challenge himself to do new things, the most recent, wild turkey hunting with "Midwest Outdoors Unlimited" at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. He touched many lives and will be fondly remembered by family and friends for his courage, positive upbeat attitude, sense of humor and his ability to make "lemons into lemonade". Brian's philosophy in life was "When you have a disability, it isn't can you do it? It's how are you going to do it? I just find an alternative to doing what everyone else does."
He survived by his loving father, Arnold Tipka, of Litchfield; his brothers, Garmon (Anne) Tipka of Spicer, MN and Barry (Dee) Tipka of Lakeville, MN; and his nieces and nephews, Ian and Devin Rea and Josh, Jake and Anna Tipka.
While Brian received many visits from family and friends through the years, he observed that not all his fellow residents at the Emmanuel Nursing Home did. In lieu of flowers, Brian has requested that you befriend, and spend time with residents of nursing homes, the disabled and the handicapped.
The family would like to thank the staff at Emmanuel Nursing Home of Litchfield for their 23+ years of loving and exceptional care they gave Brian. You were like family to him. There are not words adequate enough to express our gratitude to the entire staff. We would also like to thank Dr. Dave Detert for the professional care and friendship he had shown Brian through the years. He will be missed.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Rona Tipka and his beloved dog, Katie.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Brian Tipka, please visit our flower store.
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