Arthur Sipma, 82, of Escalon, CA, died peacefully at his home after a brief battle with lymphoma. Born to John and Marie Sipma in Friesland, Netherlands where he resided until the family proudly immigrated to the US in 1948 where they landed in Escalon, CA. He graduated from Escalon High School in 1951 and was drafted to the US Army in December 1955. He was an interpreter and lived mostly in Berlin, Germany. He returned to the family dairy on Austin Rd. in Ripon after his service and remained there until 1962 when he became a Peace Corp Volunteer in East Pakistan, near Bangladesh. He was assigned to a large irrigation project based on the Ganges River. It was during this time in Pakistan that he met the love of his life, fellow Peace Corp Volunteer and R.N., Joan E. Dykstra. They married in March of 1965 and settled in Manteca.
Art then began his lifelong passion and career in insurance, beginning with Farm Bureau Insurance. The Sipma Family moved to Escalon to start his agency and in 1974 moved to their ranch on McHenry Ave. Arthur was passionate about everything he participated in such as the Marina West Yacht Club, Golden Bear Winnies, Escalon Lions Club, Escalon Masonic Lodge, Farm Bureau, Escalon Chamber of Commerce, Camp Jack Hazard, just to name a few.
Art was a world traveler and he made sure that he visited every continent. In the last years, he and Joni spent a lot of their time at their vacation home in Palm Springs where they were surrounded by many wonderful friends and lots of visits from family. He so appreciated his best friends, Penny and Orencio Delos Santos.
Arthur will be remembered for his patriotism of the United States, epitomizing the American Dream, and for his tag line… ”Party!Party!Party!”
Art is preceded in death by his wife, Joan E. Sipma.
He is survived by his children, Gretchen Sipma and Stuart Landon of Escalon, Heidi and Brady Altamirano of Escalon, Anneke and Jeff Cerri of Felton, Delaware and Arjen Sipma of Escalon.
He will also be missed by his grandchildren: Byron and Dylan Landon of Shreveport, Louisiana, Janell Landon of Crescent City, CA, Grant and Molly Joan Landon of Escalon, CA, Lala and Emme Altamirano of Escalon, CA, Adam and Jonah Lou of Felton, Delaware and Izaac Sipma of Escalon, CA
He also leaves behind his sister Margaretha Sipma of Carson City, NV
and his brother and sister-in-law Martin and Emily Boer of Delhart, TX.
He was very close to many nieces and nephews who will also miss him.
Services were held privately on Friday, November 7, 2014
It was Art’s wish that any contributions be made in his name to Camp Jack Hazard, The Jack and Buena Foundation, PO Box 3290, Modesto, CA 95353
For condolences to the family, please visit www.deeganfuneralchapels.com
