Rev. Bernard S. "Fr. Bernie" Sippel, age 84, of Mount Calvary, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at SSM St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac.

He was born April 13, 1939, on the family farm in the Town of Forest (rural St. Cloud) to Albert & Louise (Michels) Sippel. Fr. Bernie attended St. Cloud Grade School and St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary from 1953-1958 and St. Francis Major Seminary from 1958-1965. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1965, by Archbishop William E. Cousins at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Milwaukee.

Fr. Bernie was instrumental with Project Isidore (It was a program to assist the farmers). His last two parishes he was pastor were, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton from 1981-1991 and St. Boniface in Germantown from 1991-2007. He retired in 2007. He served on the Marriage Tribunal and served as a Lieutanant Colonel Chaplain with the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 1968-1988.

Father was assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Elkhorn from July 7, 1965, to June 17, 1969, when he was assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Mary Parish in Elm Grove. He was appointed an Ecclesiastical Notary and Secretary of the Tribunal on June 15, 1976. While remaining in that position, he was appointed Associate Pastor at Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Milwaukee on June 13, 1978. Father Sippel was the founding Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in New Berlin which was canonically erected on January 4, 1981, and where Father took his position as Pastor on April 21, 1981. Father was appointed Administrator of the Pastoral Team at St. Matthias Parish in Milwaukee on August 20, 1991. He then became Pastor of St. Boniface Parish in Germantown on June 23, 1992. He was named Dean of District 6 on August 28, 1995. Father retired from active ministry on June 30, 2007, but continued serving the Tribunal and offered ministry as Assisting Priest at St. James Parish in Franklin beginning on June 16, 2009. He resumed full Senior Priest status in 2022.

Survivors include his brother, LeRoy Sippel of St. Cloud; his sister-in-law, Janet (Schwind) Sippel of Mount Calvary; numerous nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends, especially Marianne Koch.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Albert & Louise Sippel; his brothers, Edward (Bernice) Sippel, Alphonse (Virginia) Sippel, Ambrose (Helen) Sippel, and Cletus Sippel; and his sister-in-law, Rawleen Sippel.

A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-St. Cloud Site, 924 Main Street, St. Cloud, WI 53079. Archbishop Jerome Listecki will officiate. Military Rites will be conducted by State Military Honors and the St. Cloud American Legion Harvey Blonigen Post 478 following the Mass. Fr. Bernie will be laid to rest in the St. Cloud Catholic Cemetery following Military Rites.

Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Fr. Bernie's family on Monday, April 15, 2024, at Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-St. Cloud Site from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and visitation will also be at the church Tuesday morning, April 16th from 8:30 AM until 9:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for the St. Cloud American Legion or the Holyland Food Pantry. Memorials can be sent to: Family of Fr. Bernie Sippel, C/O Sippel Funeral Home, 1311 Thorp Street, St. Cloud, WI 53079.

For further details please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or to view a more detailed obituary for Fr. Bernie, please visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.