William R. Hipp

William Robert Hipp, 93, of Batavia, passed away at 5:32 p.m. September 14, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Ottumwa.

William (Bill) was born April 7, 1933, in Washington County to William and Pauline Hipp. The family moved to Packwood while Bill was a small child. Bill married “the prettiest girl in school” Mary Ruth Simmons on January 25, 1953.

A 1952 graduate of Packwood High School, Bill was first baseman on the baseball team and played forward in basketball. William served in the U.S. Army and, accompanied by his wife, was stationed in Puerto Rico during the Korean Conflict from 1953-1955. Their son Michael was born while they were there.

Even though life was busy raising their four children Michael, Robert, Douglas, and Laura, Bill found the time to serve on the Jefferson County Fair Board for over twenty years. He was also a 4-H leader for the Des Moines Ramblers for over a decade. He enjoyed playing men’s league slowpitch softball and working his Percheron draft horse team at local shows and events. He drove his favorite team (Dick and Sam) pulling his covered wagon across Iowa for the re-enactment of the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail drive in 1996. In that same year, Bill retired from farming in the Packwood and Batavia areas.

Surviving family members are sons Michael (Mike) Hipp, Las Vegas, NV; Robert (Kathy) Hipp, Batavia; Douglas (Judi) Hipp, Niceville, FL; daughter Laura (Stephen) Herman, Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren: Chris (Rachel) McCoy, Jason (Jaimee) Hipp, Rachael (Anthony) Hughes, Trevor (Joshua) Hipp, Joseph (Molly) Hipp, Robbie (Ariel) Hipp, Nicholas Hipp, Carley (Anthony) Tarantino, Stephanie (Erich) Uelmen; and great-grandchildren Garren, Collver, Galen, Sophia, Sunnee, Deacon, Arey, Raelynn, Zeke, Corin, Ingrid, Ryder, Aren, Carter, Frances, Kai, Asher, Pearl, and two on the way.

William was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary (Simmons) Hipp; and sisters Edna (Ray) Hill and Nettie (Dwight) Stucker.

The family will be present at Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield. A Celebration of Life for William is 10:30 a.m. Friday September 18, 2026, at Family Harvest Church, 8104 73rd St, Agency, IA, with a luncheon to follow. Family graveside service with military rites will be at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield, IA. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com