Elwood B. Hipple, Jr.

Elwood B. Hipple, Jr., of Hastings died on August 11, 2026, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at The Lutheran Church Of The Good Shepherd in Hastings with Pastor Paul Ozbun officiating. A luncheon will follow the service. Visitation will be from 9 am until the time of service. Burial will be at 2 pm in Hardy Cemetery, Hardy, Nebraska. Online condolences can be found at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

He was born on December 6, 1941 in Lancaster, PA to Elwood B. Hipple, Sr. and Mary E. (Sourbeer) Hipple. His baptism was at Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA. His confirmation and ordination also took place at the same church in 1955 and 1968.

He graduated from John Perisol McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA in 1959. In 1963 he received his bachelors degree from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. He completed his Vicarage (Internship) at Grace Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, IA in 1967. He then received his Clinical Pastor Education at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, NE in summer 1967. In 1968 he graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA.

On December 29, 1974, he was united in marriage to Cheryl K. Gillilan at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil, NE. Cheryl passed away on April 25, 2015.

He served as minister to many locations throughout the years. 1968-1982 at Zion Evangeical Lutheran Church in Sutton, NE and Saron Evangelical Lutheran Church in Saronville, NE. 1982-1993 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wolbach, NE. 1993-1996 at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Bassett, NE. 1996-1999 as Interim Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Benedict, NE and Trinity Lutheran Church in Polk, NE. 1999-2004 at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Hay Springs, NE and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rushville, NE. 2004-2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Paxton, NE. Following his retirement he served as Visitation Pastor at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE from 2010-2014.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and wife, Cheryl.