Alan George Hipps

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Hipps, Alan George age 65, of Chaska, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, July 23. He wass sur- rounded by his life partner Joanne Hipps and sons Jeremy, Jon and Andrew Hipps. Al was born on April 4, 1949, to parents Robert O. and Donna Hipps in Troy, Ohio. Al graduated from Edina High School in 1967. He voluntarily joined the U.S. Army in 1968. In 1969-70 he served in the 4th Infantry "Poison Ivy" Division in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. As a Staff Sergeant he was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal for outstanding service. After his duty in Vietnam, Al attended Iowa State University where he earned a degree in landscape architecture and graduated in 1973. He went on to have a successful career as a landscape architect. He started his own landscaping company called Nature's Way and most recently was a partner in Gardeen- er. In his 40 years as a landscape architect, he particularly enjoyed working with his many clients to create natural landscape designs. Al was an avid sports fan his entire life. His favorite sports were baseball and MMA. Al took his boys on annual baseball trips across the United States to watch games at various Major League Baseball stadiums. He attended over twenty UFC events in person. In Al's younger years he enjoyed canoeing in the Boundary Waters and fishing. As his family grew he shared that love with his boys through fishing trips to Canada and locally on Lake Waconia. Al was a quiet man with a kind heart. He was constantly caring for those in need of a second chance. Al was also a devoted father, a loving son and an involved grandfather. His devotion to his children was seen in his near-perfect attendance at his sons sporting events. Survivors include his life partner Joanne Hipps; sons Jeremy (Tricia) Hipps, Jon (Rachel) Hipps, and Andrew Hipps; mother Donna Hipps and stepfather Bruce Haight; grandchildren Owen and Walter Hipps; Isabelle, Oscar and Eleanor Hipps; sister Peggy (Philippe) Moineau and brother Jim (Kantharak) Hipps. He is preceded in death by his father Robert O. Hipps. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 29 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. A memorial celebration will be held on Wednesday, July 30 at 10 a.m. at the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated for the Cholangio- carcinoma Foundation (cholangiocarcinoma.org) or the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Published on July 27, 2014