John "JD" Fipps

“It’s all good.” 🤙 John David “JD” Fipps, of Drakesville, Iowa, went to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep at home on December 29, 2022 at the age of 59. He was born June 10, 1963 in Mexico, Missouri to William and Mildred (Bishop) Fipps. As the youngest of the four Fipps children, he was an unexpected blessing, and was surrounded by the best family role models throughout his entire life. John attended school at Wellsville-Middletown R-1. A lover of sports, he played baseball and basketball and was a member of the 1980 and 1981 State Basketball Teams that both made it to the Final Four. John attended college at Northeast Missouri State University, where he was a member of the Delta Chi fraternity and gained many additional “brothers” that he stayed connected with until his passing. After college, he worked many odd jobs, but ultimately began his career with Cargill in 1990 and had planned to retire there. He and his wife also had a small cattle herd on a family acreage that kept him busy in his free time. John married Sharry Eakins on August 3, 1991 and this past year they were able to celebrate 31-years of an incredible marriage. The couple was blessed with three beautiful girls Kaitlin, Kristin, and Klaire. His family was incredibly important to him. Throughout his life, he worked to instill in them an understanding and tolerance of all people and perspectives, and the ability to relax and have fun. In fact, he worked to instill these in everyone he met. John was truly a friend to all. John enjoyed coaching and formally played this role as a Girl’s Little League Coach for many years, and informally on the sidelines of all his children’s sporting events. Later in life, he took up refereeing and umpiring in his free time. Although he could never just officiate the game, the coach in him always took the opportunity to encourage players throughout the event. Rooted deep within his soul, John thoroughly enjoyed reading and music. He also spent time fishing, wood working, traveling, and being with his friends and family. John loved to learn and took every opportunity he could to deepen his knowledge and wisdom of all subjects. He was an avid Missouri Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals fan. As his last trip this past October, he was able to travel to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play their final home games of the season with his family. He is survived in death by his wife, Sharry Fipps; three daughters, Kaitlin Fipps of Des Moines, Kristin (Ryan) Davis of Bloomfield, Klaire (Gavin Heald) Fipps of Kirksville, Missouri; two grandsons, Jack and Case Davis; brother, Jerry (Noni) Fipps of Carlsbad, New Mexico; two sisters, Jeannette May of Littleton, Colorado, Nancy (Jim) Dunn of Middletown, Missouri; and countless uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, great-nieces & nephews and many friends. John is preceded in death by his father, William, his mother, Mildred and a brother-in-law Darrell May. A private graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at the Drakesville Cemetery with Pastor Thom Bryant officiating. A Celebration of Life for all to attend will be held on January 7, 2023 at Ray’s Longbranch in Drakesville, Iowa beginning at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to the Boy’s and Girl’s Little Leagues and the Drakesville Betterment Committee. Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be directed to www.waglerfuneralhome.com. As a final wish of John’s, may we all commit to investing in and advocating for ourselves in preventative medicine.

John "JD" Fipps

June 10, 1963 - December 29, 2022