Submitted by: Dan Rich

Thomas A. Trippel

Sept. 11, 1928 - March 5, 2007

South Bend Tribune 3/7/2007
MISHAWAKA - Thomas A. Trippel, 78, of Mishawaka, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, March 5, 2007, in his home. Tom was born September 11, 1928, in Mishawaka, a son of the late Carl and Margaret (Deitchley) Trippel. He grew up in Mishawaka and Madison Township and was a graduate of Madison High School. From 1946 to 1948, Tom served his country in the U.S. Marines.

On June 2, 1951, in Walkerton, he married Helen J. Kotal, and the couple settled in Madison Township where they raised their family. Tom was employed for 56 years with C.C. Kelley and Son, which is now known as Kelley Manufacturing Corporation. He began there as a mechanic and at the time of retirement was vice president. Tom was an active, lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka. His church activities included singing in the choir, ushering and bell maintenance. Other memberships included: American Legion #161, the National Catholic Order of Foresters, Marine Corps Heritage Museum, and Friends of the Hunley. Tom was an avid follower of Civil War history. He also enjoyed woodworking, making clocks, cradles and jewelry boxes, and he liked cutting wood and Walleye fishing in Canada. Most of all, Tom's family was the center of his life.

They include his wife of over 55 years, Helen; his children, Ann Marie (Patrick) Watts, Katherine (Howard) Davis, Christine (Daniel) McGrew, Carol (Terry) Walker, Julia (Michael) Neland, Barbara (Tom) Obren and Philip (Susan) Trippel; brothers, Edward (Gerry) Trippel, William (Barbara) Trippel, Paul (Phyllis) Trippel and Raymond (Dorothy) Trippel; a sister, Irene (Cyril) DeVliegher; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, Tom was also preceded in death by a son, Steven Trippel; a sister, Patricia Trippel; a brother, Charles Trippel; and his stepmother, Frieda Trippel.