Herbert "Herb" Filipponi
Herbert "Herb" Filipponi
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December 31, 1932 – November 9, 2025
Herbert Filipponi 92, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025. He was born on New Year's Eve, 1932, in San Luis Obispo to Swiss-Italian immigrants Lawrence and Annie Filipponi. Herb spent his childhood on the family's dairy ranch in San Luis Obispo alongside his beloved younger sister, Joann Denbow.
A proud graduate of San Luis Obispo High School (Class of 1950) and the University of California, Berkeley (Class of 1955), Herb went on to enjoy a 50-year career as a civil engineer with the California Department of Transportation.
Herb met the love of his life, Diane, on a "street corner" in San Luis Obispo. After a two year courtship, they married and began a partnership that lasted 68 wonderful years. Together, they built a life rooted in love, family, and service to their community. They raised three daughters-Julie, Dana, and Lisa- who were the heart of their lives and a source of constant pride and joy. Herb instilled in them the values he lived by: hard work, integrity, and compassion for others.
Beyond his professional life, Herb was deeply committed to giving back. He was a 40year member of the Kiwanis de Tolosa, a 25-year leader of the Edna 4-H Club and a dedicated volunteer for CASA and the Juvenile Justice Committee. This past July he was able to attend the 100-year anniversary event for the Edna 4-H club.
Herb was active well into his 80s and had a passion for travel, especially trips with Diane around the world and to his parents' homeland of Switzerland. He loved skiing, gathering with friends and family, and, above all, cooking and barbecuing for anyone and everyone. His legendary BBQs, whether for charities, friends, or family, will be deeply missed.
In later years, Herb followed his entrepreneurial spirit and love of community by founding Filipponi Ranch Winery on the very same land where he grew up. Whether in the tasting room, on the tractor, or behind the BBQ at wine club parties, Herb could always be found sharing stories, laughter, and kindness. He never met a stranger and genuinely cared about everyone he met.
Herb is survived by his devoted wife, Diane; his three daughters, Julie Franklin (Donald), Dana Milstead (Scott), and Lisa Cracknell (Russ); seven grandchildren- Gavin, Davis, Maren, Lindsey, Jack, Sam, and Anne, sister JoAnn Denbow, six greatgrandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Anne Fiipponi.
A celebration of life will be held on December 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Filipponi Ranch, 1800 Calle Joaquin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Transitions Mental Health or the charity of your choice in Herb's memory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
1 Entry
Paul Luiz
November 18, 2025
I just heard about Herb's passing today, my heart goes out to his wonderful family. I am close in age to Dana and Lisa, so we were in 4H together. Herb was the best 4H leader you could hope for. He allowed us to keep our animals at his house on Southwood and didn't charge us a dime for rent. Herb was always around helping with the animals and making repairs. Keeping a water dish for pigs was an exercise in futility, they would dump their bowls and lay in the mud. Herb decided to put in self dispensing water nozzles so the pigs could get water without the mess. I helped him install the plumbing and I had no idea what I was doing. But, Herb was so patient and clam, I learned more than how to do plumbing that day. I learned how you treat people and I learned how you teach people. In my adult life, I have had many positions where I have been a supervisor and a boss. I have modeled the way I treat the people who I work with, on how Herb treated me that day. I try to generously share my knowledge and be calm and patient, just like Herb was with me. He was a great man, I will miss him, I am so sorry for your loss.
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