ODIN — Janet Hipp, 72, died May 11, at her home in rural Claflin. She was born March 2, 1942, in Great Bend, the daughter of Jim and Cecelia Lorene (Pundsack) Keeley. Janet, a lifelong resident of the area, graduated from Radium High School and completed nurse’s training at the Dominican School of Nursing in Great Bend. On Oct. 12, 1963, she married Thomas Hipp in Seward. He preceded her in death on Feb. 26, 2006.
She had been a Registered Nurse for the past 43 years. A majority of her career was spent working at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, where she started as a floor nurse, then moved to a surgical nurse and later retired as the chief nursing officer. Janet was a past member of the Kansas Organization of Nurse Leaders and was a strong voice for nursing. She was a mentor to her staff and peer group and led by example. Janet enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends.  
Janet was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church of Odin where she served on the Altar Society and Parish Council. She also served on the Sunflower Diversified Services board, Clara Barton Hospital Foundation and a volunteer at RSVP of Hoisington.
Survivors include four sons, Mike Hipp and wife Patty, of rural Claflin, Brian Hipp of St. Louis, Mo., Chris Hipp and wife Jody, of Hays, and Scott Hipp and wife Carey, of Ellsworth; two sisters, Patty Vratil and husband Ron, of Great Bend, and Linda McFarlane and husband Gene, of Lenexa; and 11 grandchildren, Allie, Katie, Keeley, Elizabeth, Gabrielle, Ashley, Benjamin, Olivia, Andrew, Emily, and Thomas Hipp. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin with Father Ted Stoecklein as celebrant. Burial will follow at Holy Family Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today, with a Vigil Service followed by an Altar Society Rosary beginning at 7 p.m., at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, Hope Lodge of Kansas City, Heartland Cancer Center or Sunflower Diversified Services in care of  the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home*
P.O. Box 146
Hoisington, Ks. 67544
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, May 13, 2014