Marvel Sippel, 97

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Blue Earth – Marvel Sippel, age 97, passed away peacefully early in the morning, Feb. 17, with family by her side. A Mass of Christian burial was at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at SS Pater & Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth, Fr. Gregory Parrot officiated. Visitation was one hour prior to the service and burial was at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Easton. Online condolences can be left at www.pattonfh.com.

Marvel was born on Jan. 3, 1926 on her family farm in Barber Township, southwest of Easton. She was the daughter of Clem and Olive Paul (Willette). Through hundreds of recollections, it seems her childhood was idyllic, with her and her cousins spending summers riding their horses and having picnics and absolutely loving the serene farm life of southern Minnesota. She used to laugh at stories of her and Galen and Charlene Braunshausen (cousins) and the other kids sledding down the big hill behind the farm during the winter. That became a tradition for the Staloch and Braunshausen kids for years to come. Even later when memories faded, her eyes sparkled when she talked of riding her horse Teddy all around the township and when weather permitted, she rode Teddy to the one-room school house where she attended elementary school, only a quarter mile from the farm. Sadly, when Marvel 17 years old, she lost her dear mother Olive and although she and her Dad Clem carried on without her, it seems everything they did was to honor her memory. Grandpa Clem Paul was a renaissance man and a natural engineer/artist if ever there was. He built grottos and other remembrance items that until the day Marvel passed away, she could recite what and where they were built, from their home to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel cemetery.

Marvel graduated from Delavan High School in 1943, and she married Philip Staloch at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church on Sept. 25, 1947. She and Philip took over the Paul family farm and adopted four children, Barb, Jeff, Lisa and Greg. Marvel loved the farm life and her family. Tragically on Dec. 7, 1971 Philip Staloch passed away unexpectedly and Marvel was left to manage the farm and raise the family. On Aug. 2, 1974 Marvel married Leo Sippel of Blue Earth. Leo also grew up on his family farm near Easton, only three miles down the road from the Paul farm and Marvel and Leo were childhood friends. Leo had lost his wife Dorelda (Weise) nearly the same time as Philip passed way. Leo and Marvel were married 41 years until Leo’s passing in 2015. In 1983 they bought a second home in Mesa, Arizona where they spent their winter months and enjoyed the warmth of Arizona, making new friends with whom they’d enjoy their time, plus this allowed Marvel to spend time with her grandchildren, Nicholas and Tyler Staloch. Marvel was a fabulous cook, baker, seamstress and gardener and in her later years a wonderful painter. Besides painting on canvas, Marvel began painting Leo’s wonderful wooden carvings, especially his waterfowl pieces. They would spend all day in the basement of their Blue Earth home with Leo carving and Mom painting. Marvel had a huge circle of friends with whom she played cards, delivered meals to the elderly and generally volunteered her time for decades. A devout Catholic she prayed the rosary daily for as long as she was able. She was as kind and gentle as any person who walked this earth.

She is survived by her brother, Tom (Joyce) Paul; daughters, Barb Heather and Lisa Moe; sons, Greg (Chris) Staloch and Randy (Alana) Sippel, 10 grandchildren, Christopher Staloch, Bradley Staloch, Marc Heather, Nikki Heather, Nicholas (Annie) Staloch, Tyler (Jess) Staloch, Jim (Kris) Sippel, Shannon (Rick) Allen, Jason Sippel and Tammi (Ken) Leppla; eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Marvel was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Staloch; son, Jeffrey Staloch; daughter-in-law, Nan Sippel; husband ,Leo Sippel; and son, Ronald Sippel.