Carl Tippenreiter

On February 10, 2021, Carl Tippenreiter, 92, quietly passed away in his home in Lake Monticello, Virginia.

Carl was born on February 26, 1928 in Nutley, New Jersey to Johannes and Elizabeth Tippenreiter.  In addition to his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his brother, Helmut, and his sisters, Leisel and Margaret.  Carl was the only child born in the United States.  Until he entered elementary school, Carl only spoke German.  His family moved from Nutley, New Jersey to Elizabeth, New Jersey where Carl spent his childhood.

Carl graduated from Hillside High School in 1946 and joined the Navy where he became a metalsmith.  After two years at sea, he worked for a short while as a metalsmith in a kitchen cabinet factory where he obtained his first experience in plant safety.  With the GI Bill offering, he was able to further his education attending North Carolina State University for two years majoring in forestry.  He found forestry not to his liking, so he went into the industrial world.  He worked for General Electric and General Motors who sent him to the National Safety Council School in Chicago for safety training.  Later he went back to school taking evening classes to earn his bachelor’s degree after 10 years in 1970 from Rutgers University, New Brunswick in Psychology on his own.  Though until his death, a day did not go by where he did not learn something new.  He was also an active member of the Kappa Upsilon fraternity.  Carl was employed for 33 years by the Garden State Parkway as a safety engineer.  Upon retirement, Carl and his second wife, Joanne, retired to Lake Monticello in Palmyra, Virginia.

Carl was married to his first wife, Marie Mazziota, for 16 years who predeceased him.  They had three children, two sons, Karl Tippenreiter and his wife, Ruth, their children and his grandchildren, Lydia, Dorothy and Herman; Dennis Tippenreiter and his wife, Barbara, their daughter and his granddaughter, Beth; and his daughter, Karen Ambro, and her husband, Jim.  Carl’s grandson, Lucas (Karl’s son) also predeceased him.

Carl was married to his second wife, Joanne Richman, for 37 years, who also predeceased him.  He was step-father to Susan Pickard, who also predeceased him, and her husband, Richard, and step-grandfather to their children, Diane and Lauren; Debbie Richman Arbogast and her husband, Steven, and step-grandfather to their son, Gregory; and David Richman.

Carl was also in a long term relationship with Lena Voesack who predeceased him and considers her daughter, Lisa Cogswell, her husband, John, and their sons, John and Matthew, as part of his family.

We would also like to thank Sharon Moore, his caretaker, for her support and steadfastness to his care.

Carl attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and was a member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion Post 74.

A memorial mass will be held at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Palmyra, VA at a later date.

Carl wished to be remembered that his life motto was “Ich Dien”— “I Serve.”

Arrangements are being handled by Sheridan Funeral Home in Kents Store, VA.