Vicki L. Sipe

Vicki Lynn Sipe, 83, Kewaunee, WI passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease, Friday morning, March 6, 2026, while comfortable in her bed with her loyal little dog, Satch. Vicki was born April 8, 1942, in Savanna, IL to parents Wayne R. “Poppy” & Arvilla A. “Honey” (Kampmeier) Williams. Vicki, always beautiful with a lipstick smile and curled blond hair, well known for her sparkling, friendly, loving, quick-witted and honest personality, was popular with her Savanna, IL class of 1960, even being crowned Homecoming Queen. She was also a cheerleader, a band member, playing the baritone, and played the piano at the Methodist church where she attended youth group. After graduating, she attended the School of Nursing at the Swedish-American Hospital in Rockford, IL where she received her cap, and shortly thereafter, turned her heart of care and compassion into a life devoted to caring for and loving her family.

Vicki was a devoted Mom to four children and three bonus children and especially enjoyed her life as “Grandma, Treat Gramma, Nana, MiMi. Always busy keeping an active, colorful, lively home filled with children playing games, coloring, playing house, and enjoying delicious treats, she was hard to keep up with. First with her children and later with her grandchildren, she kept her youthful zest for life with playing tennis, skating, riding bikes, picnics at a park, movie theatre dates with a large bucket of extra buttery popcorn and candy and cans of coke in her purse, bowling parties, ice cream and sleepovers with late night McDonald’s runs, dressing like a teenager, dancing and playing right alongside at every age.

Vicki loved houses and had many lovingly decorated homes throughout her lifetime in IL, IA, FL and WI. Her homes were always cozy and welcoming. Known for her painted furniture (even painting her well-loved piano purple at 10pm at the age of 80), lace, antiques, dolls, hand-made curtains, tablecloths, blankets, and doilies, with a smell of freshly baked goodies in the air, her home was a “home” to everyone who entered.

A great "made from scratch” cook, she will always be remembered for her cinnamon rolls, pie crust, “so good” or molasses crackles cookies, Grandma Jimmy’s swiss omelets with butter & sugar, butterhorn rolls, homemade gravy, and everything fried with bacon grease. Vicki often expressed love through food, never knew a stranger, and everyone was always welcomed into her home with a slice of homemade pie or cookies, or if she didn’t have anything baked, she always had ice cream, candy and ice cold Coca-cola.

Besides cooking, she enjoyed sewing, painting ceramics, painting and refinishing furniture, crocheting, knitting, coloring, and playing the piano. She loved playing games, such as her favorites Words with Friends, Scrabble, Euchre, “15,” and BINGO. She especially loved bowling, teaching many of her grandchildren how to bowl, and even enjoyed a huge family bowling 82nd birthday party.

She was always a hard worker with various jobs that included waitressing, union factory worker, legal secretary, helping at her parents’ Lakewood Campground in Savanna, IL, cashier, finish woodworker, auto detailer, housekeeper, pharmacy tech, and lovingly helping raise so many of her grandchildren. She spent her hard earned money loving her family with overflowing Christmas gifts.

Vicki is survived by a large, loving family: son, Rick B. Meier (Kristen Powell), Kewaunee, WI, granddaughters, Elizabeth “Lizzie,” and Katherine “Katie” Meier, daughter, Tamara [Frankenberger] (Randy) Dunk, Savanna, IL, grandsons, Nathan [great grandson Emmett] and Jacob (Sydney) Dunk, son, Larry (Kimberly) Sipe, Kewaunee, WI, granddaughters, Jessica [Sipe] (Jeremy) Allen [great grandchildren, Arriana, Laurance & Jeremy Jr], Macey [Sipe] (Collin) Steele [great grandsons, Layne, Lemmy & Ozzy], Kaycee [Sipe] (Ke’Andre) Miller [great grandson, Kai], Maddison Sipe (Emilio), Haley Sipe (Marissa), bonus granddaughter, Caitlyn Tohak [great grandchildren, Grayson & Lakyn], daughter, Tricia “Tressy” [Dewey] (Timothy) Keister, Kewaunee, WI, grandsons, Joshua (Sara) Lewis [great grandson, Evan] & Kaven (Amanda Nimmer) Lewis [great grandchildren, Jack & Zoe], granddaughters, Lindsey [Lewis] (Andrew) Miller [great grandson, Benson] & Micalley [Curtis] (Jason) Novak, bonus grandson, Wayne Keister, firstborn grandson, Michael Paul (Samantha) Sanger[great granddaughters, Lilly & Chloe]. Vicki is also survived by her sister, Judy [Williams] (Tom) Weber, Columbus, IN, son in law, James Sullivan, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and close friends, two of her closest being Karen Culbreath and Sandy Palomares.

Vicki is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Karen (Williams) Mills, daughter, Terri (Dewey) Sullivan [infant great granddaughter, Abbigail Sanger], close friends, Rose Walker, Ginger Law and the most joyous love of her life, husband, “Big Larry”, Larry H. Sipe.

Her ashes will be laid with him at Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll, IL on Saturday, July 25, 2026, with a celebration of life at Manny's for close friends and family to gather for a short memorial service, stories, laughter and cake from 1:30-4 pm.

The family would like to express their gratitude to caregiver Amy and Compassus Hospice who helped keep Vicki comfortable and cared for. Vicki loved with her whole heart and had a grace for forgiveness, even for the worst of wrongs and stated ‘That’s what we’re supposed to do.” The world will be less warm without her loving heart and less bright without her smile and laughter. You will be forever beloved, Mom.

Arrangements managed by Kinnard Funeral & Cremation Services – Kewaunee, online condolence messages may be shared at KinnardFCS.com.