Patricia A. Hipp

Patricia A. Hipp (“Pat”) of Norwalk, Ohio, went home to be with her Lord on January 30, 2026.

Pat was born on September 4, 1930, to James and Agnes (Stoll) Riley in Milan, Ohio. She graduated from Milan High School in 1948 as valedictorian of her class. She went on to graduate from both St. Vincent School of Nursing and Mary Manse College in Toledo, majoring in nursing and education. She married Gerard (“Jerry”) Hipp in 1955 and moved with him to New York City. There she worked as a surgical nursing instructor at Misericordia Hospital. After Jerry’s college graduation, they returned to Norwalk and had five children in eight years. During that time, she continued teaching nursing students in Sandusky and Norwalk and finished that career as a Staff Development Coordinator for Fisher-Titus Hospital.

In the early 1970s, with the help and support of Jerry, they became the majority owners of Maple City Ice Company, which was founded, in part, by Jerry’s father, Leander Hipp, in 1917. Pat was the president of the company from 1986 until her death. She was also a founding partner in several other family businesses, including Maple City Builders. In 2002, Pat and Jerry established The Gerard and Patricia Hipp Family Foundation as a means of helping others and providing a family legacy of philanthropy.

Pat liked to credit Jerry for part of her success in business. She dedicated a book she wrote about the family businesses to him, writing: “To my husband Jerry, who pretty much lets me do things my way.” Truer words were probably never spoken, and it resulted in a marriage and partnership that lasted over 70 years. She passed her strong work ethic down to her children and grandchildren, many of whom are active in one or more of the family businesses.

Never one to slow down, she always insisted on entertaining her large family, especially on the holidays. In between, she enjoyed visits from her 13 grandchildren and their spouses, along with her 24 great grandchildren. Many evenings were spent together playing cards and watching old movies. For her 90th birthday party, she requested a family Euchre tournament. She always loved a challenge but was never fond of losing. She also enjoyed traveling the world with Jerry and spending many winters in Florida.

Pat was deeply religious and loved her Catholic faith and church. At her honorary induction into the St. Paul High School Distinguished Hall of Fame with Jerry in 2019, she noted the importance of living a life of faith in Jesus and service to others. Supporting Firelands Catholic Education Development Office (FCEDO) and its mission to preserve the accessibility and vitality of Catholic education was a particular passion of hers.

She is survived by her husband Jerry; children, Jeff (Mary Ann) Hipp; John (Rachel) Hipp; Anne (John) Everson; Mary (Mike) Berry; and her daughter-in-law Pat Hipp. Other survivors include her sister, Nancy Conway, and her grandchildren: Jamie (Justin) Hoepf; Leander (Taylor) Hipp; Sara (Adam) Bodell; Kate (Stewart) Downey; Libby (Shawn) Rutledge; Jaclynn (Travis) Missler; Lauren (Zack) Endrai; Samuel (Maggie) Everson; Justin (Jess) Berry; Chelsea (Ryan) Voccola; Catherine Berry; Jennifer (Bob) Sullivan; and Andrew (Courtney) Hipp; along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her son, Joel Hipp, and her brother, Richard Riley.

Visitors will be received at Walker-Eastman-Heydinger Funeral Home located at 98 West Main Street, Norwalk, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Paul Catholic Church in Norwalk on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Luncheon to follow with cold Bud Lights at the St. Paul Gathering Space.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a charitable donation to either FCEDO, 93 E Main St., Norwalk, OH 44587 or St. Vincent de Paul Society, 91 E Main St., Norwalk, OH 44857. Online condolences and expressions of sympathy can be made by visiting www.walkereastmanheydingerfh.com.