Lorraine Lucille Schipper-Kalkwarf, age 92

Lorraine Lucille Schipper – Kalkwarf, age 92, of Aplington, Iowa, was born the daughter of George and Dena (Harms) Bierman, on October 13, 1932, at home on the farm in Butler County, Austinville, Iowa.  She attended Washington Township #5 Country School, the Austinville Elementary School and later proudly completed her GED after her children were born.

On December 11, 1953, Lorraine was united in marriage with George Alvin Schipper at the Washington Reformed Church in rural Ackley, Iowa.  They made their home and farmed near Kesley, Iowa. Lorraine was a loving wife, mother and a hard-working farm wife alongside George. In 1975 they moved to Clarksville, Iowa and farmed for a couple more years, then they purchased an acreage near Butler Center, Iowa. Through the years Lorraine also worked at the Red Fox Inn in Waverly and the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. The family moved to Aplington in 1986. George passed away on August 16, 2002.

Lorraine was a member of the First Reformed Church in Aplington, where she was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and helped cook and serve for many functions. She enjoyed cooking, baking for family and friends, especially bread, enjoyed quilting, raising flowers, especially roses. She enjoyed keeping her hands busy with ceramics, knitting, embroidery and sewing. She loved spending time with her family, and she proudly kept a meticulous home. 

On September 24, 2006, Lorraine married John Albert Kalkwarf at the First Reformed Church in Aplington. They resided in Aplington.

Lorraine passed away Thursday, June 12, 2025, surrounded by her family, from natural causes.  Lorraine was preceded in death by her first husband, George Alvin Schipper in 2002;  her second husband, John Kalkwarf in 2016; a daughter, Marie in infancy; a son, Jeffrey Schipper, 1 grandson in infancy, Justin Schipper; 1 great-grandson, Noah Dixon; her parents, George and Dena Bierman; two brothers, Floyd Bierman and Lawrence Bierman; and two sisters, Berdena Wolff and Imogene Maifeld.

Lorraine is survived by four children, Anita (Harley) Harms of Ackley, Steven (Connie) Schipper of Sheffield, Lori (Bill) Allen of Ackley, and Marcie (Jim) Breitbach of Gilbertville; 18 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 7 great great-grandchildren with two on the way; one brother, Vernon (Pat) Bierman of Ackley; one sister-in-law, Clarene Schipper of Ackley; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the First Reformed Church in Aplington. The pianist was Deb Fisher and she accompanied the congregation as they sang “Amazing Grace” and “In the Garden”. The burial was held at Washington Reformed Cemetery, Ackley, with Adam Harms, Jeremy Buss, Troy Schipper, Sam DeGroote, Jaicob Breitbach, “little” Jeffrey Schipper, and Wyatt Allen serving as Casketbearers. The Honorary Casketbearer was Justin Schipper. 

Visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, at the First Reformed Church in Aplington. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be left at www.redmanfuneral.com