Barbara Viona Kippenhan

Barbara Viona (Steffy) Kippenhan, 96, died on February 2, 2025 at Serenity Villa in Campbellsport. My mom was born on October 10, 1928, the daughter of Elmer Wiedman Steffy and Isabelle Alberta Uritson, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

She attended sixteen schools before graduating from Cleveland High School in Seattle, Washington. They moved frequently because her dad set up security systems for large corporations including Chrysler, Douglas Aircraft, Lockheed Aircraft and Boeing Aircraft.

Mom met my dad, Glenway Herbert Kippenhan, on a Seattle city bus. He was being discharged from the Navy after World War II. They were married on June 14, 1947 in Seattle. My mom was a Campbellsport telephone operator before I was born. She worked for Vande Zande Insurance for three years. She was an Administrative Secretary at Campbellsport Public Schools for forty-two years and a part-time secretary for the Public Elementary School for a year. After retirement, she did volunteer work for the Horicon Marsh, the Milwaukee Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She also subbed in the kitchen at the Public School.

My mom loved me and I loved my mom. When I was in college I told her that she had outlived her usefulness as a mom and she became my best friend. We were only twenty years apart, so many people thought we were sisters. My mom sparked my love for reading, theater, travel, art, adventure and inspired my independence. She loved big cities, shopping, good food, cars, shoes, fashion, dogs, music, wine and playing games. We played dominoes, weekly, with friends until her dementia made playing difficult.

Barbara is survived by me, Diane Laura Kippenhan-Vollmer and my husband, James Albert Vollmer. She is also survived by Carole Ann (late Walter) Marchant Ferber, Sharon Ann Entringer, Nancy Ann (late David) Dreher, Jeanne Ann Marchant, Susan Ann (Rick) Dreher, Judith Ann Marchant and their children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, her parents, her in-laws, Harvey Carl Frank and Aleda Ottilia Marie (Mertes) Kippenhan, brother and sister-in-law, William Wayne and Alice Minnie (Kippenhan) Marchant, nephew William John Marchant, Carole’s husband, Walter John Ferber Jr, Carole’s son, Jonathan William Ferber, Nancy’s husband, David Michael Dreher and Judy’s sons, Jeremiah Dale and Jacob William Hanson.

Jim and I would like to thank all of the staff at Serenity Villa - Campbellsport, where Barbara had been a resident for six and a half years, for their compassionate care. They feel like extended family. We would also like to thank Horizon Hospice, especially Tammy, for making mom’s passing comfortable. Mom is resting in peace!!!

Barbara will have a graveside funeral on a future date in St. Matthews Cemetery in Campbellsport.

Twohig Funeral Home, in Campbellsport, is in charge of Mom’s arrangements with online guestbook and condolences at www.twohigfunerals.com