John Whipple

John LeMoine Whipple, Sr., 85, formerly of Columbia, died April 14, 2010 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, MO. John donated his body to the University of Missouri and a memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Community of Christ Church, 1111 S. Fairview Rd. in Columbia. Mr. Whipple was born February 13, 1925 in Groton, CT to Alma and Dora (LeMoine) Whipple. On June 6, 1947 he married Shirley Jane Swanson in Independence, MO and she preceded him in death after 57 years together. John was born back east but spent most of his life in the mid-west from Minnesota, Southern Ontario and for the most part in Missouri. He attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa where he received his Liberal Arts Degree, followed by his attendance at the University of Missouri where he received his BS and Masters of Education Degree. Mr. Whipple served in the Navy during WWII, the Korean conflict as well as the naval reserve until 1956. He worked as a full time minister from 1954 until 1969 and then worked in an administrative capacity at the University of MO until retirement. Once retired he and his wife Shirley did several stints working in National Parks all around the country while traveling in their RV. John enjoyed fishing, camping, carpentry, landscape oil painting, traveling and working with people   He had a great sense of humor and he instilled a love of learning and doing a good job in his children. John was a lifetime member and High Priest of the Community of Christ Church and was active in the priesthood until he retired in the early 1990’s as well as a long time member of the Downtown Optimist Club where he received the honor of “Distinguished President”. John is survived by his children, Jacqueline Whipple of San Diego, CA; John Whipple, Jr. of Jefferson City, MO and Judy Lincoln and husband Scott, Jill Heisler and husband Gerry,  of Columbia, MO; his grandchildren, Christine Duis, Jayson and Matthew Mengel, Zachary and Gabriel Posse all of Colorado Springs, CO; John Whipple III of Lees Summit, MO; Laura Whipple of Blue Springs, MO; Christopher Lincoln, Alexander and Grant Heisler all of Columbia, MO; step-grandchildren Samantha Myers of Columbia, MO; and Kimberly Hoffman of Portland, OR as well as 13 blended grandchildren and his sister Elizabeth Scott of Independence, MO. He is also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. We are thankful for a long productive life and blessed relief from a debilitating disease. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Missouri Veteran’s Home Auxiliary, 1 Veterans Dr., Mexico, MO 65265-3379.