Carol Ann Sippel

Dear Mom:

We understand that you hate being the center of attention. However, after a lifetime of unconditional love and quiet generosity, it’s your turn to take the spotlight for just a moment.

You deserve to be honored for your boundless empathy and kindness - to family, friends, and strangers alike. You were unwavering in your belief that there is goodness everywhere and that everyone has a story to tell and deserves to be heard.

You taught us to be kind, to have deep empathy, to really listen, to be wise but not let it harden or disillusion us. Above all, you valued integrity, safety and mutual respect in all things. You taught us to be gentle with all creatures and to find beauty in the natural world.

You deserve to be recognized for your deep generosity to people - with both your time and financially. You hated to see a loved one suffer and did everything you could to alleviate it. You did the same for strangers, and sometimes even inanimate objects that seemed abandoned and needed to be rescued!

You deserve to be commended for your bravery in the face of Crohn’s and indescribable pain and discomfort of over 40 years that you soldiered through with such little complaint. You didn’t want that to ever be the focus. You refused to let it define you.

We are so proud of the hard work and challenges you faced in order to support our family growing up, ultimately becoming a nurse. You touched countless lives, educating new parents and providing care to newborn babies, many who were high-risk and facing difficult futures. We love how you continued to advocate for nurses even after retirement, keeping an eye on local news and politics. We love that you continued to use your medical knowledge to advocate for others and for yourself.

We are so grateful that you always let us be ourselves, and that you welcomed any and all friends and theatre kids into your home, our beloved farm. While you hated the spotlight, you supported us by attending every show and hosting countless cast parties for our theatre productions - whether they were ones we wrote ourselves to perform in the backyard, ones at DeForest High School, Edgewood College, or beyond. You encouraged us to always play and pretend and use our imaginations. You were the ultimate Drama Mama.

We love you for all your endearing quirks, for your fierce independence, for your tenacity. We love that you would use duct tape to cover a hole on an old work dress, just so you could easily keep wearing it to do yard work. We love your love of fire and ceremonial burnings to let precious things go back to the earth. It was always a beautiful way of loving and letting go. We loved the countless meals and gatherings at the farm - so full of love, laughter and so many leftovers. We love your desire for simplicity and a focus on what really matters in this world - connecting with the people who matter and sharing joys and sorrows openly. We love your honesty and integrity.

We miss you more than words can express. You were our rock, our light, and our glue that kept us all together. Thank you for all you gave so selflessly. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being our mom. The best mom. Love, Kelly & Jenn

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Carol Ann Sippel was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Ken and Lu Sippel (Schrage), one of six children. She attended UW Madison where she received her nursing degree and went on to work in the Meriter Birthing Center in Madison for over 26 years.

Carol was a caretaker in her soul, and it was her calling to always help others. Being a nurse was the perfect fit for her innate abilities to selflessly care, nurture and educate others. She absolutely loved her work helping new parents and babies.

Above all, she wanted to be a mother, and she is survived by her two daughters, Kelly Kiorpes (Jon Shultz) and Jenn Kiorpes. However, she had many, many countless other kids - the friends of her daughters whom she welcomed without hesitation into her home, providing warmth, love, a place to be themselves, a place to play, hot chocolate, and lots of food. A Lot. Carol was also the best grandma to her “grandkitties” Marty, Emmett and Lily Beans, as well as a proud grandma-in-law to Andrew.

Carol Is also survived by her siblings Ray Sippel, Mare Sippel (Paul Wagner), KJ Sippel (Pat Ebertz), Kurt Sippel and nieces and nephews Ryan Sippel, Sara Sippel, Shawn Sippel, and Eric Sippel (Yuli) as well as kiddos Adalynn, Weslynn, and Marcus.

Carol loved the solitude of her farm, watching the birds and wildlife outside in her backyard. She was proud of keeping her yard and garden looking beautiful and hauling old branches to the bonfire for a future burn. She kept busy with reading and staying up on the world and local news. She enjoyed a night of good television and a comfy chair with lots of cozy blankets and her slippers. She loved a good chat over a decaf coffee and a pastry, she loved getting pedicures, and she enjoyed a good shopping spree (mostly just browsing and looking for sales). She was a generous friend and always remembered birthdays and anniversaries. She loved a good piece of fun mail - sending or receiving. Above all, she loved gathering with her family. She was fiercely independent, a quiet rebel and “no pansy ass.”

Carol now joins her parents Ken and Lu, brother Richard Sippel, friends Tim Bauer, Jeff Grover and Father Rupert Dorn, and other loved ones since passed, all in a toast with Manhattans (or maybe a little white wine).

Carol was a selfless, generous, caring and endlessly loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend to so many and we are beyond grateful for the time we had with this gentle, loving soul. She was just a great human with the biggest heart. She was a kindred spirit. She was truly one of a kind and the world is a little less bright without her light in it.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Nature Conservancy in Carol’s honor for her love of birds.

Please continue shining her light out into the world by always choosing kindness.  Thank you for loving our mom.

A Celebration of Life for Carol - likely involving a bonfire and many snacks - will take place at a later date.