Mostly Clear, 66° F
(September 7, 2002)
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 12) for Tom W. Wipplinger, 45, of North Platte, Neb., who died Saturday, Sept. 7 at Pueblo, Colo.
The services will be at the Steer Head Arena four miles north and two miles east of Hershey, Neb. Chaplain Perry Edwards of Great Plains Regional Medical Center will officiate, and a special eulogy will be offered by lifetime friend, Bruce Keller.
Mr. Wipplinger was born Sept. 10, 1956, in Red Lodge, Mont., to Jack and Eileen Smith Wipplinger. He graduated from Red Lodge High School in 1974 and attended the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, Idaho. He married Alice Anne Williams in 1984, and they moved to North Platte that same year.
He was a rodeo stock contractor for 14 years and most recently was one of Nebraska's top horse trainers. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, American Cutting Horse Association, Nebraska Rein Cow Horse Association, Colorado Rein Cow Horse Association, Wyoming Cow Horse Association, a past member of the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Moose Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Alice, of North Platte; one son, Jedadiah, and one daughter, Nikki Jo, both at home; his parents, Jack and Betty Wipplinger of Belfry, Mont., and Eileen Smith of Pavillion, Mont.; one sister, Kathy Bierma and husband Steve of Stapleton, Neb.; one brother, Jack Wipplinger and wife Becky of Red Lodge; a grandmother, Edna Smith of Cody; nieces and nephews, Lindsay and Chase Bierma, Skyler, Lat and Lene Wipplinger, Dar Mitchell, Duncan Williams, Steven Williams, Buffy Chamberlin, Will, Seara and Travis Stovall, Eric, Micheala and Jake Williams; and a goddaughter, Libby Burrows.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in North Platte.
A memorial has been established to Tom's Children's Education Fund at the First National Bank in North Platte and Hershey State Bank.
