Robert L. Sipple

Robert Leo Sipple, 77, of Ashley and formerly of Bear Creek and Georgetown passed away at Geisinger Wyoming Valley on Tuesday, February 3, 2015.

Born May 20, 1937 he was a son of the late Henry L. and Grace Kastreva Sipple.

Robert honorably served our country in the United States National Guard 109th Field Artillery from 1956 through his retirement in 1995 having achieved the rank of E8, Master Sergeant. During his military career Robert achieved many accomplishments and awards of which he and his family were very proud, including the Army Service Ribbon/National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, PA Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (6); Army Achievement Medal; General Thomas Stewart Medal; Major General Thomas White Ribbon / PA 20+ years medal and he also was the recipient of the esteemed Order of Saint Barbara Award.

In addition to his military service, Robert worked for Sprague and Henwood where he travelled doing test bore drilling. Throughout the years he furthered his education through the military and worked as a freelance master electrician. Later, he fully retired from the maintenance department at King's College.

Robert loved being surrounded by his family and friends and had a special ability to tell a great story, a joke or just reminisce about all of the good times he shared. He was an avid hunter and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends at the Four Jays Gun Club in Bradford County where he was a member for the past forty years. Having been an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, he was overjoyed when he was picked to be in the Dallas Weekly as a fan of the month.

Robert was preceded in death by his son Robert (Bobby) Sipple, Jr.; great granddaughter, Erin McPeek; brother, Raymond Sipple; and sister, Grace Ann Brobst.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Margaret Rush Sipple; children, Larry and his wife Cindy Sipple; Leo and his wife Sandy Sipple; Colleen Grace and husband Karl Stefanski; Edward and his wife Leigh Ann Sipple; Dawn Marie Cefalo and fiancé Doug Barry; daughter-in-law, Brenda Sipple; grandchildren, Haley Ann Rimmer, Amber Sipple, Shara Sipple, Brandon Sipple, Nicholas Sipple, Leeann Wheaton, Michael Wheaton, Shawn (Jake) Wheaton, Erik Sipple, Erika Stefanski, Emily Sipple, Nathan Sipple, Joe Cefalo, Samantha Cefalo and Victoria Benning; great-grandchildren; Kaine and Kaden Rimmer, Vincent Cowley, Heather Powlus, Craig and Matthew Palmer, Adriana Fyfe, Henry Michael Sipple, Elijah Astles, Giovanni Rivera, Michael Wheaton, Jr., Hadyn, Shawn and Kyiah Wheaton, Aliyah, Jonathan and Leo Lyons, and Alexis Rose Sipple; sister, Bernice Gavlick; brother, Donald Sipple; nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law and special friends.

Celebration of Robert’s Life will be held Saturday at 10 AM from McLaughlin's, 142 South Washington Street in Wilkes-Barre with Funeral Mass at 11 AM in the Church of Saint Leo in Ashley. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be at McLaughlin’s on Friday from 5 to 8 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations are made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Memories and condolences may be shared with Robert’s family at www.lifecelebrations.com