Dan Stipe

7/29/1927 — 6/30/2014

Service Date: 7/12/2014
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Dan Stipe died quietly and peacefully at home with his wife, Pat and family by his side the morning of June 30, a beautiful sunny day in Lewiston, the city where he chose to raise his family and live the fullest of lives. Just a month short of his 87th birthday, he died of congestive heart failure.

Dan was born July 29, 1927, in Dodge City, Kan. Forged in the heartland of America, he enjoyed a strong family upbringing where he learned the values he quietly and consistently modeled the rest of his life. An Eagle Scout, he joined the Navy at age 17 during WW II and proudly served in the Pacific Theater through the end of the war. After his tour of duty and honorable discharge in August 1946, he went to college on the G.I. Bill, attending Wichita University and then the University of Kansas. His dogged determination and confidence got him into medical school, where he earned his M.D. in 1956. Upon completion of his internship in Tacoma, he and fellow Kansan and classmate Dr. Stamey English chose to remain in the Pacific Northwest and established an office together in Lewiston. Dan loved his work and toiled tirelessly as a family practitioner, eventually teaming with several other partners in the Clearwater Valley Medical Clinic until his retirement in 1993 after 39 years of doctoring. He was well-respected and admired by his fellow professionals and more importantly by his staff and his patients. Despite his commitment to his profession, he understood the importance of a good work/life balance and made time with his family a priority as best he could. He enjoyed the outdoors and the many trips and adventures he experienced with family and friends. He loved hunting and fishing and caught many, many steelhead over his outdoorsman years. A lifetime of public service and associations was highlighted by his service as chairman of the Idaho State Board of Medicine from 1969 to 1973, serving as chairman of Blue Shield of Idaho, Board of Directors, and by numerous volunteer activities including helping deliver Meals on Wheels until a month before his death. An inveterate and voracious reader, he was a lifelong learner always interested in or willing to try learning or experiencing something new. This included earning a private pilot license, completing stained glass projects, traveling the world, or just tackling the latest and greatest board or card game around all the old standbys like cribbage, pinochle, and bridge.

His first marriage ended in divorce in 1969. In 1974, he married the great love of his life, Pat Button, with whom he shared a most joyous and fulfilling 40 year life journey. Dan and Pat's shared travels and adventures took them together to 56 countries and all 50 states.

His handwritten 'obituary notes' for us were substantially more abbreviated, reflecting his humility, wisdom, and clarity of what's really most important when looking back on a long life well-lived, not perfectly, but overall with genuine care, concern and compassion for his family, friends, patients and others. He touched many, many people with his humor, positive attitude and good-hearted nature. His lifelong example and leadership for two families worth of children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren is a testament to his character. He is survived by his wife Pat Stipe, sons Scott (Lil) Stipe, Brad (Natalie) Stipe, Whitney (Vanny) Stipe, daughter Stephanie (Shawn) Rudy, stepsons Dan (Cindy) Button, Steve Button, and Jeff (Chris) Button, and grandchildren Joy (Bill) Placek, Jason (Tracy) Hammond, Marianne (Chad) Owens, Rebecca Button, Kelsey (Kiel) Burcham, Zach Williams, Kyle Button, Bella Stipe, and Bennett Stipe. He faced the last years, months and weeks of his life with exceptional courage, unselfishness, determination, generosity of spirit and love, and always with a smile. He was by any measure a caring, generous and good man who loved his wife and his family deeply, and despite those strong Kansas roots, he was proud to call Lewiston his home.

It was his express wish that in lieu of flowers, donations or contributions in his memory can be made to the Willow Center for Grieving Children, PO Box 1361, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 or online through www.willow-center.org. Online condolences can also be left at www.malcomsfuneralhome.com. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 12, at CrossPoint Alliance Church at 1330 Powers Avenue in Lewiston.

Service Information

Date & Time: Saturday, July 12, 1:00 PM
Location: CrossPoint Alliance Church
1330 Powers Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501

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Condolences

Paula Robins Ward

My condolences to Dr. Dan's entire family. Many fond memories of his gentle spirit.

Saturday, January 24, 2015 8:39 AM