Frank Wippler

Frank Wippler, 65 year old resident of Sauk Rapids, MN formerly of Onamia, MN passed away from a brain tumor he had been battling since 1994 on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday January 9, 2015 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Joe Herzing officiating. Burial will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-8 P.M. on Thursday and from 9-10 A.M. on Friday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Frank was born on December 8, 1949 in Little Falls, MN to the late Frank and Cora (Loidolt) Wippler. He grew up in Sauk Rapids, MN where he attended school at Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from the Sauk Rapids High School. After graduation Frank was drafted into the U.S. Army on August 26, 1969 and honorably served his country in the Vietnam War. Frank was honorably discharged on August 29, 1971. He was united in marriage to Donna Nemeth on July 7, 1973 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids, MN. Frank served as a law enforcement officer for 29 years with the Benton County Sheriff’s Department. He served in all aspects of the job, some of which include, deputy, detective, chief deputy, jail administrator, and lastly Benton County Sherriff. He served as the Benton County Sheriff from 1991 until he retired from law enforcement in 1998. Several of his greatest accomplishments in law enforcement include, graduating from the F.B.I Academy, charter member of the Tri-County Major Crime Investigations Unit, working with legislators for better laws for law enforcement agencies in the state and received the Minnesota Sheriff’s President Award in 1997. Frank earned his masters degree in law enforcement from St. Cloud State University and he also taught law enforcement classes at St. Cloud State for several years. After retiring Frank along with his brothers purchased the Little Falls Hardware Hank and he continued to work at the hardware store until his health no longer allowed him too. Frank and Donna also spent a lot of time with family and friends at their cabin on Mille Lacs Lake where they loved fishing. He also enjoyed hunting and was an avid Minnesota Gopher, Twins, and Vikings fan. Though his professional career was very important to him, his greatest love in life were his children and grandchildren. Frank was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Frank is survived by wife, Donna Wippler of Sauk Rapids, MN; son, Jon (Gina) Wippler of Sauk Rapids, MN and their children, Eli & Zoe; daughter, Jessica (Joe) Reis of Little Falls, MN and their children, Joseph, Rachel, Matthew, & Emma; brothers, Dan (Karen) Wippler of St. Joseph, MN, Rick (Rose) Wippler of Vadnais Heights, MN, and Paul (Sharon) Wippler of Sauk Rapids, MN; sisters, Mary Jo (John) Vierzba of St. Cloud, MN and Susan Nelson of Sauk Rapids, MN. Frank was preceded in death by parents, Frank and Cora Wippler; and niece, Ashley Wippler. The Wippler family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinary care Frank received from the staff at the VA Medical Center Building 50-1.

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Frank Wippler

December 8, 1949 - January 4, 2015