Laura Lippert

Laura Ellen Lippert, 87, of Stevensville passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, April 11, 2012 at her home, surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM Saturday, April 14, 2012 at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 404 East Glenlord Road, St. Joseph, with Reverend Glenn Rosenbaum officiating. Friends may meet with the family from 11:30 - 12:30PM prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be given to Berrien County Cancer Service.

Laura was born October 7, 1924 in Red Bank, Tennessee, the third child of Thomas L. and Sarah E. (Bradley) Brown.

Survivors include her children - Thomas F. (Peggy) Lippert of Baroda, Tamara K. Schermer of Stevensville; grandchildren - Kelly (Jeff) Tomlinson, Jared Lippert, Stacy (Lance) Shaffer, Sarah Crowell, Michael (Holly) Lippert; great grandchildren - Madison Tomlinson, Alaina Crowell, Kaitlyn Crowell, Joshua Tomlinson, Aisley Shaffer, Wyatt Lippert; brother – Willard R. “Bud” Brown of Harrington, Delaware; sister - Joyce L. Galbreath of Nashville, Tennessee and several nieces and nephews.

Laura was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Rynold on November 13, 1998, brothers John Thomas, Samuel (Pete) and Marion (Vic) Brown and a sister, Nona Elizabeth Brown.

Laura was a member of the Lutheran Church (WELS), faithfully serving her Lord for over sixty years. Her early Christian training was at Cloud Springs Baptist Church, where her great-grandparents were founding members. She loved to sing and sang alto in a quartet for several years. Laura came to Michigan in the mid-40’s from Georgia after graduating from Lakeview high school to work at Cooper-Wells as a knitter where she was affectionately given the name “Jo”, being the gal from Georgia. She also worked as a cashier in the old Sears store on Main Street. Laura enjoyed dancing to the sounds of the big bands. Laura married her husband, Ryne at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, in 1948. Laura and Ryne began their married life in Eau Claire, Michigan, later moved to Fairplain and then retired in Stevensville.

Family connections were the focus of her life. Laura looked forward to, and attended family reunions with four generations of her immediate and extended family in Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, Florida and many other destinations throughout her life. Day long reunions were not enough, Laura liked being together for a week at a time.

Laura was a gifted seamstress known most especially for the dozens of christening gowns she made for nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great nieces, nephews and the children of many friends. She enjoyed attending and cheering on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in all of their sporting events and extra curricular activities. Laura was also known for her affinity for shoes and loved to go shopping, anytime and anywhere The ideal grandmother, she was affectionately known as “Granny” by her grandchildren and dozens of others along the way.