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KENT F. ISPEN

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University of Wisconsin

KENT ISPEN Obituary

Published by Richmond Times-Dispatch from Mar. 3 to Mar. 4, 2012.

IPSEN, Kent F., 79, of Richmond, departed this life on February 19, 2012. He leaves behind Dr. Shyla M. Ipsen; and their five children, Victoria Ipsen Curle and her husband, David, Steven J. Ipsen and his wife, Dr. Catherine Barry, Lisa French and her husband, Larry, Laura Ipsen and her husband, Douglas Kernan and Nina Perkins and her husband, Spencer; his grandchildren, Megan, Lauren and Savannah Moxley, Hunter Curle, Grace Ipsen, Anna, Jordan and Elliot French, Lucas, Nina and Logan Kernan, Elizabeth and Will Perkins; his sisters, Shirley McPeek and Anina Haker; along with numerous nieces and nephews to cherish his memory. Kent, a retired Art Professor from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), also served his country in the Army, earned a BA, MA and MFA from the University of Wisconsin, taught K-12 in the public schools, the University of Minnesota-Mankato, and the Chicago Art Institute. He was nationally and internationally recognized in the media of clay and glass as a potter, sculptor and glass blower. His work was widely exhibited and included in various publications, and now permanently resides in numerous museums, art galleries and private collections. His work exists because Kent drew a great sense of pleasure in creating objects suggesting a mood or attitude to which the viewer could relate. A memorial service will be held for Kent on Saturday, March 10, at 3 p.m. in St. Mary's Episcopal Church located at 12291 River Road.

This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

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Recent Activity

June 8, 2012

Someone posted to the memorial.

March 9, 2012

Kristan posted to the memorial.

March 7, 2012

Neil posted to the memorial.

3 Entries

June 8, 2012

I miss you Grampa.. I'll see you soon. I promise <3

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Kristan

March 9, 2012

While I never got to meet Kent, I feel like I know him a little through his daughter Laura. Like Kent, she loves and appreciates art, tends to procrastinate :-), is a kind, teacher and mentor to everyone around her and is very giving. I imagine there is a lot of Kent in her very artistic and talented son Lucas as well.

His family is very lucky his memory and the twinkle in his eye will live on in a million different ways through his grandchildren, his nieces and nephews, his art, and the students he taught and mentored. What a wonderful gift.

My sincere condolences go out to the entire family for losing such a huge force from their lives. I will keep you in my thoughts and my prayers.

Neil

March 7, 2012

When I first transferred to VCU Kent was my first adviser. That was in 1975. He introduced me to glass. A medium I still work with.

Through these years Kent had been my teacher, a very close friend, a comedian, part of my family, late night philosopher, fellow procrastinator, book of knowledge, and mentor. Later in our careers I was able to help him in the studio with research, polishing and problem solving.

Kent was one of the 2 people, besides family, I invited to my wedding.

We talked about our life problems and gave each other moral support and a good talking to when called for.
We criticized each others short comings knowing that neither was going to change and neither would let our verbal exchange hurt our friendship.

Kent was not a big believer in self promotion. He spent his energy on teaching and developing new ways to work with glass.

He was a very giving person.

He loved seeing his neighborhood grow, taking great pleasure in watching everything being built up. He would go out and survey what was completed the day before and talk to the workers.

He loved his boat, spending 1000's of hours and who knows how many tens of thousands of dollars on what he called his "Black Lover".

He loved his family most of all.

What he couldn't give emotionally he tried to make up any way he could. We almost always started our daily discussion with how the family was doing. He loved bragging about them and bringing me up to date on what everyone was up to.

I could go on for hours.

I'll close with giving my condolences to the family and picturing Kent sailing, with that big smile on his face.

Good bye friend. Happy sailing. We will all miss you.