Rowen D. Zipfel Burbank High Winter 1936
1917-2011
Rowen Zipfel passed away peacefully at his home in Burbank, after a long illness, May 23, 2011. His entire immediate family had gathered the day before to be with him.
Rowen was 93 years old and had been married to the love of his life, Bettie for 68 years.
Rowen was born August 15, 1917 in Bakersfield, California. When he was of Junior High age, he attended John Burroughs Jr. High and later, graduated from Burbank High in the winter of 1936, where he was active in football and other sports and activities.
Rowen was a journeyman plumber for well over 40 years. Even in his retirement, he was always busy. He was a talented artist and has produced many watercolor paintings. He did wonderful leather work and also could build or make just about anything out of wood. He was very mechanical and could fix “whatever needed fixing”…He loved music and was a wonderful dancer. In his younger years, he was also an avid horseman and loved to fish. He was a wonderful storyteller to his daughter and his grandchildren. He was his family’s hero. And…he absolutely LOVED Ice Cream and Apple Pie! (Apple Pie was his Birthday Cake of Choice for years!)
Rowen was pre-deceased by his Mother, Mabel Dunham, Father Joseph Dunham, brother Donald Zipfel BHS ‘33, brother, Robert Zipfel BHS Summer ‘36 and nephew, Daniel Zipfel.
Rowen is survived by his wife Bettie Zipfel, his daughter Pam Zipfel Kirkwood BHS ’64, Son-in-law Jon Kirkwood BHS ’64, Granddaughter Kirsten Kirkwood JBHS ’97, Grandson Kris Kirkwood JBHS ’97, Great-Grandsons Caleb Cook-Wickline, Kristian Rowen Kirkwood, Sister Patricia Goodman, 2 Nephews and 3 Nieces.
Rowen was loved and treasured by his family and friends and will be missed so very much. We were all so fortunate to have had him in our lives.
Submitted by Pam Zipfel Kirkwood
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