George Edward Sippel, age 94, of Austin, died Friday, March 25, 2011, at the Austin Medical Center.

George was born July 15, 1916, to Joseph and Mary (Kolodgy) Sippel in Donnelly and raised in Albert Lea. He g

raduated from Albert Lea High School. George was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. On June 10, 1937, he married M. Irene Hudson at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. She preceded him in death on Feb. 5, 1982. On April 9, 1983, he married Lucille Marie “Lucy” Kaasa. She preceded him in death on Feb. 25, 1997.

George worked at Wilson & Co. in Albert Lea then moved to Austin to work for the United States Department of Agriculture as a federal meat inspector assigned to Hormel Foods for the majority of his career. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, the American Legion and the Cedar Valley Conservation Club. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, carpentry, fishing, hunting and spending time “up north” at the cabin.

Survivors include five children: Dennis, of Austin; Margaret (Marty) Miland of Austin; Frederick “Fred”, of Duluth; Patricia “Patty” (Jim) Kruse, of Eden Prairie; Joseph “Joe” (Ruth), of Austin; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wives, Irene and Lucille; parents, Joseph and Mary Sippel; brothers, Daniel and Fred; sisters, infant Dorothy, Victoria Shaw; son-in-law, Larry Miland; daughter-in-law, Mary O’Brien Sippel family; grandson-in-law, Shawn Ferrin.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at St. Augustine Catholic Church with the Rev. Joe Fogal officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service today at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post No. 91.