Obituary of Michael C. Dipple

Michael C. Dipple, 51, of Muscatine, died Saturday, August 20, 2005, as a result of injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident in rural Louisa County. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 25, 2005, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Reverend Don Swanson of the First Baptist Church will officiate. Casket bearers will be Steve Morehouse, Les Drumm, Fred Gertz, Tom McBride, Keith Hyatt and Adam Havlin. Burial will be in Blue Grass Cemetery, Blue Grass. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2005, at the funeral home. Michael was born on April 18, 1954, in Blue Grass, the third of four children to Donald C. and Harriett R. Hill Dipple. His early years were lived in Blue Grass until 1969 when the family relocated to Muscatine, where Mike resided until his death. As an adult Mike worked in concrete and construction for over 20 years. His favorite projects were the First Baptist Church of Muscatine, Wild Cat Den State Park Mill Project, and family renovations in Muscatine and West Liberty. He was a passionate gregarious person that valued time spent with his family, his friends, his beloved companion, Cujo, and his Harley Davidson. Michael worked hard, loved deeply, fought fiercely, and laughed often. His family and friends shall miss his warmth, his humor, his curiosity, his strength, his stubbornness, his questing mind and Viking heart. Mike left this world in much the same way he lived: flying free and in the moment - on wings of steel. Survivors include his father, Donald C. Dipple of Muscatine; three sisters, Leona Marshall and husband, Christian, of rural New Boston, Illinois, Sylvia Havlin and husband, Bradley, of West Liberty, and Wanda Dipple of West Liberty; four stepsons, Jason Bierman, Aaron Bush, Jessie Bush and Jeffrey Bright, all of Muscatine; three nieces; two nephews; seven great-nieces; two great-nephews; and six step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and a great nephew.