Willard Piepenburg

Willard W. ‘Bud’ Piepenburg, age 95 of Litchfield, MN died on Wednesday November 8, 2023 at the Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield, MN.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday November 13, 2023 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service.  There will also be visitation from 3:00 - 6:00 PM on Sunday November 12, 2023 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  Interment will take place at Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield, MN following the service.  Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard.

Willard Warren Piepenburg was born March 12, 1928 in Hutchinson, MN.  The son of Willie and Helen (Schrum) Piepenburg. Willard and his family moved several different times before making his current family farm his home south of Litchfield.  Willard started high school in Litchfield, and also worked alongside his dad on the family farm.  Willard was drafted in the Army shortly after his 18th birthday in 1946 and was sent to Fort Snelling.  On January 6, 1948 Willard was drafted again, and was enlisted in the Navy, where he trained pilots for duty in Korea.  Willard loved his job, he said, the food was good and they treated him with respect. 

While Willard was in the Navy he met Shirley Nordby on a blind date, and they were united in marriage on May 17, 1952, and were blessed with 5 children.  After working with his dad for a few years, Willard decided to buy him out and started on his own.  He milked cows for many years, and then purchased a herd of Angus cows, and then 10 years later he bought a herd of Charolais show cattle.  After the tornado of 1985, they sold the show cattle and raised beef steers and crop farmed.  He bought a lake lot by Brainard, and built a cabin on it in 1972 where he enjoyed spending time with his family. 

Willard had a passion for the outdoors.  He enjoyed trapping, fishing, and hunting specifically deer, boar, turkey, moose, and duck.  He would make several hunting and fishing trips to Canada, Texas and the Dakota’s.  Willard also enjoyed buying new pickup trucks, going out to eat, and Sunday church services where he thanked the good lord for all the blessings in life and his loving family. 

Willard is survived by his children; Doug (Nancy) Piepenburg of Litchfield, MN, Kevin (Linda) Piepenburg of Litchfield, MN, Dale (Mary) Piepenburg of Dassel, MN, Shari (Bill) Wimmer of Litchfield, MN, Kurt (Darlene) Piepenburg of Litchfield, MN. Sister Phyllis Rosenow of Litchfield, MN.  11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren, special friend Faye Kjolsing, also many nieces and nephews .

Willard was preceded in death by his wife Shirley (Nordby) Piepenburg, sister Mildred Beckstrand, and parents; Willie and Helen Piepenburg.