John L. Sippel

John L. Sippel, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at the Preston Health Center at the age of 97. He was born in Fond du Lac, WI, on May 17, 1920, the son of Louis and Della (Beau) Sippel. He attended St. Joseph’s grade school and Fond du Lac High School and he graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a degree in Journalism.



He was a cub reporter in Superior, WI, Valparaiso, IN, and for the Milwaukee Journal. After successfully submitting stories to Downbeat, a weekly music fan magazine, he was offered a job at their central office in Chicago. There he met Betty Blake, whom he married on June 14, 1947, at her parish church in Chicago. She died in her early fifties while they lived near the familiar “Hollywood” sign.



Towards the end of the fifties, he transferred to Billboard Magazine, a business publication, centered on music. He worked out of their Chicago office and he inaugurated a softball team, the “Ten Percenters”, involving bookers who scheduled bands, singers, and entertainers. Team members became sources of good copy, the art of networking!



Towards the latter fifties he transferred to Billboard’s Los Angeles office, except for three years in Nashville, where he became acquainted with the country and western music luminaries, such as the King, Elvis, and the Grand Ole Opry stars. He became an executive at Monument Records for a time, also worked for Mercury Records (the last major recording company to remain independent). When Mercury was swallowed by a conglomerate, he returned to Billboard where he soon developed a full-page column on the inside cover the was often the first thing subscribers looked at.



He sustained many friendships, often long distance, with the many business and entertainment contacts. His life-long interest in entertainment and music continued until very recently when his health deteriorated. He retired from Billboard soon after reaching age 65.

After retirement, a good friend from school days informed him that Jane Marshall, towards whom John had often expressed a great admiration and attraction, had retired from her job in Manhattan and returned to Fond du Lac. His widowhood soon ended and John’s brother, Fr. Edward Sippel presided at their wedding on August 17, 1990 in St. Patrick’s Church in Fond du Lac. They chose a home at Hilton Head Island soon after and were both very happy there. She passed away some dozen years ago and is buried at Rienzi Cemetery in Fond du Lac.

John has donated his body to medical study. A memorial mass is scheduled at his parish, St. Francis by the Sea in Hilton Head Island.



Much gratitude is owed to dear friends who upheld John to the last, Debbie Cherri, Steve Remke, Leigh Bullen, Nurse Niki, the caregivers at Preston, and Attorney Francine Tobin.

Requiescat in pace.