Connie L. Sippel

Connie L. Sippel, age 68, of Schaller, Iowa, died Monday, September 18, 2023 at her home in Schaller. Funeral mass will take place Monday, September 25, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Iowa. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. The world became a brighter place with the arrival of Connie Lee O’Meara on August 17, 1955. She was born at Ida Grove Hospital to William and Beverly (Daugaard) O’Meara. She attended Storm Lake St. Mary’s School, graduating with the class of 1973. She is remembered by her many friends for her unique sense of humor and easy-going manner. On April 26, 1974, Connie was united in marriage to Steven Sippel in Storm Lake, Iowa. They made their home in rural Schaller, where they raised five children: Nicholas, Sarah, Daniel, Tom and Chelsea. Connie was an active member of Sacred Heart parish for nearly 50 years. She served as an usher, a communion distributor, religion education instructor and president of the Guild. Adapting quickly to life in the country, Connie took up gardening, which became a lifelong passion. The summer months were her favorite - she spent all of her time outdoors, planting flower gardens and vegetables. In autumn, she canned the bounty for winter. Connie was a talented and creative seamstress, and she was gifted at many other handcrafts and homemaking skills. She could transform a room with a gallon of paint and a bolt of material. She sewed everything from curtains to quilts. Receiving a gift from Connie meant receiving a gift from her heart and her talent, whether it was a set of embroidered towels or a pint of her produce. For ten years, Connie worked as an aid at St. Mary’s School, while driving the bus for Sacred Heart parish students. For the following 20 years, she drove bus for Schaller Crestland and Ridgeview School districts, retiring in 2021. Connie loved her family more than anything and treasured snuggles with her grandchildren. Her time with them was never idle; she shared her love of crafts with them. She organized Easter scavenger hunts and did her best to make every holiday a memorable occasion. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Steven, children Nicholas Sippel, Sarah (Adam) Babcock; Daniel Sippel, Thomas Sippel, Chelsea Sippel; sisters Teresa Mahn and Mary (Kevin) Richardson; grandchildren Kaylee, Nicholas II, Brandon, Ciaran, Brighton, Viola, Ruby, Fallon, Soren; great-grandchildren Rosaline, Everleigh, Maisie, Kai; brother-in-law Mark (Julie) Sippel, sisters-in-law Lisa Sippel, Susan Beckman and Alyce Sippel, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Preceding Connie in death are her parents, Bill and Beverly O’Meara, sister Debbie Morgan, parents-in-law Bill and Betty Sippel; brothers-in-law Larry Sippel, Neal Sippel, Billy Sippel, and Richard Mahn.

Connie L. Sippel

August 17, 1955 - September 18, 2023