Lester Ippisch

POLSON — On Sunday, Nov. 27, 2005, Lester Ippisch of Big Arm died of complications from cancer and MS in Polson.

Les, the son of Albert and Adeline Ippisch and loving husband of Hanneke Ippisch, was 78 years old at the time of his passing. He was born in Lonepine, where he grew up on a family homestead and attended high school before entering the Navy in 1945.

One of the first servicemen to enter Nagasaki, Japan, after the nuclear bomb was dropped during WWII, Les' approach to life was always courageous and purposeful. With many years of public service, Les worked for the U.S. Forest Service where he always felt a real connection to wildlife and the woods. A favorite memory was his assignment at the Spotted Bear Ranger District, a story later captured by Hanneke and illustrated by her daughter Hedvig.

In 1975 when Les and Hanneke married they moved to Ninemile, west of Missoula, where they restored the historic Ninemile Schoolhouse and Teacherage and began a long career of designing and creating wooden treasures. Traveling around the world to learn about other cultures and traditions, many of Les and Hanneke's creations reflected their adventures and observations.

In spite of Les' diabilities associated with MS he fought a courageous battle for nearly 30 years with will and determination.

Les will be greatly missed by his wife Hanneke, Jan and Beth Rappe and granddaughters Annie and Olivia, Pat and Hedvig Flowers and granddaughters Erika and Natalie and Orville and Olleke Daniels, Liedeke and Tom Ritzhiemer; sister Ina Fridt; brother Jim Ippisch, as well as many, many friends around the world.

At his request there will not be a service. The family requests donations be made to the Missoula Children's Theater.