Harold "Lee" Phipps

Harold “Lee” Phipps, 83, of rural Little Sioux, Iowa, passed away Saturday, October 5, 2024, at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, Sioux City, Iowa.

A funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa, with Pastor Linda Boggs, officiating. Visitation will be 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 9, 2024, with a time of sharing memories at 8:00 P.M. at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa. A live stream of the service will be posted on the Goslar Funeral Home website with Lee’s obituary. A burial will follow on Thursday at the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa. Following the burial there will be a luncheon at the Onawa Community Center, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Lee was born January 27, 1941, in rural Monona County near Castana, Iowa, the son of Harold and Ruby (Brink) Phipps. He was the oldest of seven siblings. Lee grew up on the family farm near Blencoe, Iowa, where he was driving tractor by the age of eight. He attended Blencoe School, where he was an excellent athlete in baseball and basketball. Lee graduated with the Blencoe High School class of 1959.  After graduation he went on to Wayne State College and received his Bachelor of Arts in Education. During college he continued to play intramural basketball.

Lee and Margaret Rothe were united in marriage on March 28, 1965, in Charter Oak, Iowa. To this union they had three children, Scott, Sharyl, and Stacy.

He taught school in Westfield, Iowa, for several years teaching physical education, world history, and drivers’ education. Lee coached boys and girls basketball and track. In 1969, Lee and Margaret moved back home near Blencoe, Iowa, to farm full time.

Lee enjoyed playing cards, fishing, traveling, popcorn, ice cream, Dr. Pepper, umpiring softball, and refereeing boys’ and girls’ basketball. Lee and Margaret enjoyed doing the jitter bug and square dancing with the group called “Good Timers.” He was very smart and had a fantastic memory. Lee never met a stranger and always had the best “Shaggy Dog” stories and good jokes.

He was a member of the Monona County Fair Board, Monona County Mutual Board, and the Vesper Masonic Lodge #223 of Onawa, Iowa. Lee was also a member of the Blencoe United Church of Christ, Blencoe, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret Phipps of rural Little Sioux, Iowa; children, Scott (Lisa) Phipps of Little Sioux, Iowa, Sharyl Sauer of Des Moines, Iowa, and Stacy (Grady) Warner of Onawa, Iowa; grandchildren, Hailey Clark, Seth Phipps,  Karleigh (Jed) Johnson, Jessica Lee, Ruby Phipps, Brent Sauer, Chance Sauer, Cooper Warner, Reid Warner, and Morgan Warner; great-grandchildren, Lucas Plaehn, Kennedy Plaehn, Joselyn Johnson, Jordyn Johnson, Judson Johnson, Kori Lee, and River James Sauer; brothers, Donald (Denise) Phipps of Blencoe, Iowa, and Larry (Pat) Phipps of Iowa Falls, Iowa; sister, Linda Urban of Sioux City, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Chuck Orsini of Onawa, Iowa, and Stanley (Debbie) Rothe of Omaha, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Candace Phipps of Onawa, Iowa, Lowene Jershin of Omaha, Nebraska, and Wilma Larson of Omaha, Nebraska ; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ruby (Brink) Phipps; parents-in-law, Ted and Irene (Miller) Rothe; sisters, JoAnn Orsini, and Lori (Ray) Mousel; brother, Clarence Phipps; brothers-in-law, David Urban, Ed Jershin, and Don Larson; and sisters-in-law, Lois Gero, and Patricia Yost.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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