Howard Kenneth Schipper, 95, died Saturday, December 31, 2016 at home surrounded by his children. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Nora Schipper, and by brothers, Henry, George, Warren, Ted and Lester Schipper and sisters Geraldine Pollock and Lois Leibrandt.
He leaves his four children; daughter, Cathie S. Leslie of Las Cruces New Mexico, her husband Ian Leslie; his son, Ken Schipper of San Juan Bautista and wife Kathy Schipper; his son, Stephen Schipper of Hollister and wife Laura Schipper; daughter, Diane Sardella of Atwater and husband Danny Sardella; his eight grandchildren; Jonathan Schipper, Romyn Scarpulla, Joshua Schipper, Stephanie Schipper, Erin Cogswell, Leslie Carvitto, Colin Leslie, Kerry Leslie, Grant Sardella and Clayton Sardella; and his nine great-grandchildren; Stae Schipper , Eva Scarpulla, Baleigh Schipper, Ludovico Scarpulla, Braden Schipper, Vera Scarpulla, Evie Schipper, Liam Schipper and Caleb Cogswell. He is survived by his sister-in-laws Olga Schipper and Gloria Sarrow and their children.
Born in Casselton, North Dakota and raised in Santa Cruz, California, he graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1940. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Army, where he was a Sargent, serving 4 years in WWII. Howard met his wife Nora Bella of Davenport following his discharge, married her in 1949 and moved to Hollister where he started a clothing business with his partner and brother Lester Schipper. The two brothers, and later Howards son Steve succeeded in operating Schippers, a fine men and women’s clothing store, on San Benito Street in Hollister for 42 years.
In his early years as a young business man Howard was instrumental in organizing many of the downtown traditions which still exist in Hollister today. He not only took pride in his business, but truly relished the friends he made during his time in business. Over the years, his business expertise and reputation led to service in several local organizations where he served as Past President of San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, Past President of Hollister Rotary; Past and Exalted Ruler of Hollister Lodge No. 1436, B.P.O.E. and Past District Deputy and Past State Vice President for B.P.O.E.
Mr. Schipper had a passion for life, following his retirement from Schippers Clothing in 1990 he and Nora traveled and enjoyed their retirement years together. He relished his annual fishing trips on the Klamath River and took great pride in teaching his children and grandchildren to water ski during their annual vacations on Lake Tahoe. He maintained a dedication to his yard and beautiful flower garden, even planting tulips early this December for blooms in the coming spring. He was a community leader, and a dedicated family man. He will be greatly missed.
A funeral service will be held at the Hollister Elks Lodge, 351 Astro Dr. Hollister, CA on Saturday January 7, 2017 at 11:00 am. Lunch will follow at the Elks Lodge. Memorial gifts in Mr. Schipper’s memory can be made to The Hollister Elks Lodge, The Rotary scholarship fund, or Heartland Hospice Care.
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