Cover photo for Audrey  Helen Tipka's Obituary
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1929 Audrey 2019

Audrey Helen Tipka

July 13, 1929 — October 17, 2019

A memorial service for Audrey Tipka will be held Wednesday October 23rd at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester. The Rev. Robert Lentz will officiate. Mrs. Tipka, 90, of Rochester, died Thursday October 17, 2019 at Seasons Hospice. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Rochester Chapel, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Placement of the urn will occur at the Oakwood Cemetery columbarium in Rochester.

Audrey Helen Johnson was born July 13, 1929, the daughter of Ernest and Cleora (nee Burlingame) Johnson, and she was raised near Kingston, Minnesota. She married LeRoy Tipka on June 21, 1947 in Litchfield. Mr. Tipka worked for Piggly Wiggly grocers, and his career moved the family to several Minnesota communities before they settled in Rochester in 1960. Mrs. Tipka was a homemaker. In 1974 the family began Tipka Foods with grocery stores in Faribault, Norwood-Young America, and Pine Island. At that time Mrs. Tipka became the bookkeeper for the family business and continued until 1995 when she and her husband retired.

Mrs. Tipka's interests were varied. She was an avid and accomplished bowler, traveling to national tournaments annually. She was known for her interests in politics and current events, and was an avid reader. She extensively pursued the family's history and genealogy, and her research took her all over the country and abroad to the family homelands. Her travels were many and adventurous. She passionately loved the outdoors, spending hours working on flower beds and landscaping on the small acreage where she and her husband lived. She also enjoyed her German Shepherds, hiking, sledding, and cross-country skiing. She followed her grandchildren's activities and sports, and the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and had memberships with many historical societies.

She is survived by two sons, Kim (Carol) Tipka of Pine Island, and Fred (Karen) Tipka of Mantorville; two daughters, Judy (Mike) Pfeffer of Rochester, and Mary (Patrick) Tipka-Malone of Rochester; four grandchildren, Gregory Pfeffer, Bradley Pfeffer, Jenna (James) Beenken, and Daniel Tipka; a great-granddaughter, Madalyn Rose Beenken; and two brothers, Donald and Robert Johnson.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Doug Tipka and his wife Laurie; three brothers; and four sisters.

The family would like to thank Pastor Lentz, the staff at Meadow Lakes Senior Living, and each and every one of the exceptional Seasons Hospice House staff and volunteers. Praise God for all of you.

If so desired, memorials may be directed to Seasons Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church, both of Rochester.

Visitation

OCT 22. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CST)

Mahn Family Funeral Home, Rochester Chapel
1624 37th Street. NW
Rochester, MN, 55901

Memorial Service

OCT 23. 11:00 AM (CDT)

Trinity Lutheran Church -Rochester
222 6th Avenue SW
Rochester, MN, 55902
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Audrey Helen Tipka, please visit our flower store.

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