Ludwig J. Ipavec

Funeral Mass for Ludwig Joseph Ipavec, 92, of Gilbert, will be 10:30am Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn and Fr. Frank Perkovich as con celebrants. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass at church. Burial with military honors by the Gilbert VFW Post will be in the Gilbert Cemetery. Mr. Ipavec died November 29, 2013 at St. Michael's Health and Rehab in Virginia on the eve of his 50th wedding anniversary. Ludwig was born May 24, 1921 in Gilbert, MN to Anton and Mary (Steblay) Ipavec, the youngest of five children. He was a 1939 graduate of Gilbert High School. Lud was drafted into the US Army during WWII. He served in Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes from 1942-1945. While in the military, he was responsible for guns and armament on the P-47 aircraft and also loaded bombs and ammunition on the aircraft. On November 30, 1963 he married Mildred (Mahovlich) Ranzoni in Gilbert. Ludwig worked for US Steel as a mechanic and retired in 1983 with 37 years of service. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years. He was also a member of the George and Mark Klobuchar VFW Post in Gilbert, the Gilbert Senior Citizens and the SNPJ Lodge. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Mildred; numerous nieces and nephews in Cleveland, Milwaukee and Minnesota, great nieces and great nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Anton, Joseph and Frank; sister, Mary Tomsich.