Obituary of Donald Dippel

Don Dippel, aged 77, departed peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2023 after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer. Don is predeceased by his father Perry Dippel, and his mother, Florence “Sue” (Robinson) Dippel. He leaves his loving wife of nearly 16 years, Debbie, who never left his side throughout his extended illness; children, Dan (Claudia), Andy (Meagan), Julia (Joe); stepchildren, Brian (Sarah) Sak, Amy (Brandon) Redder; grandchildren: Carmella, Luca, Graham, Raegan, Elson, Milo, Teo, Perry, Gianni, John & Gavin; brothers, Jeff, Tim (Marta), Ken (Bev); father-in-law, Bill Dengler; brothers-in-law Bill (Liz) and Bob (Nancy) Dengler; sister-in-law, Cathy (Mark) Perrin; many nieces and nephews.

Don was born September 4, 1945 in Rochester, NY, and relocated as a boy with his family to Walworth, NY when the family transitioned into fruit farming. He graduated from Wayne Central High School in 1963 and attended Arizona State University in Tempe for industrial design before returning home to Walworth to start his career, eventually landing with the Webster Central School District as a school bus mechanic. He spent 37+ years with WCSD, retiring as shop foreman in the mid 2000s. 

Don was an avid lover of cars early on, buying his first Model A Ford in 1958. The next 35+ years saw Don becoming a highly skilled car builder and metal fabricator, building many hot rods and old Fords through the years, even entering local and regional short track stock car racing with his brother Tim. They would both become track champions in the mid-1970s, all the more impressive when considering neither had the support of a race team, pit crew, or single sponsor. 

In the late 1970s after his racing interests passed, Don built a family with former wife Jeanette, the mother of his children, as well as a home in Walworth on the family property. Don has remained on this property ever since, taking great pride in shaping and protecting the land for future generations. 

Don’s interests and hobbies included collecting and enjoying antique farm tractors, reading about American history, small-scale chicken farming, traditional country music, attending classic car shows and antique tractor steam pageants in the summertime with family, harvesting firewood, photography, and just enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. Don was a talented gardener and a skilled welder and metal fabricator, building or improving hundreds of machines, parts, equipment, and objects, most times from scratch, to improve everyday life, each one with the essential stamped date of completion so he could recall the build later. Don had a great sense of humor, and he also enjoyed taking his grandkids on tractor and wagon rides through the property, attending family bonfires, and walking around outside on summer evenings with a beer and a hot pepper. He will be greatly missed. 

Friends and family may call on Friday, April 14th from 4-7pm at Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, 12 South Ave., Webster, where his Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, April 15th at 1:00 pm. Don was not much for dressing up - casual attire preferred! In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the American Cancer Society.