Obituary of Joan Ann Hipke

Joan Ann Hipke, a member of the Church of the Open Bible and longtime employee of Purity Supreme and Stop & Shop passed away after a long illness at the Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center in Medford. She was 78 years old. She was the daughter of the late Albert and Dorothy Potter. She grew up in Dorchester and attended Barrington College. She married Gerald Hipke in 1963 and they have shared 51 years together as husband and wife. They settled in Woburn in 1968 and raised their 4 children in the community. They also found a home at the Church of the Open Bible where they strengthened their Christian faith. At the church, they enjoyed partaking in Sunday worship, and Joan would volunteer in the nursery and at the Vacation Bible School. She worked overseeing the salad bar at Purity Supreme and then Stop & Shop for over 25 years. She enjoyed her work, her regular customers, and the friendships formed with fellow employees. Joan had a number of interests and activities. She was a wonderful cook and her family’s favorite dishes were German potato salad, lasagna, pies, and cookies. She enjoyed crocheting doilies, afghans, and stuffed bears for her home, family, and friends. She also enjoyed all sorts of arts and crafts. She found Cuckoo Clocks interesting and collected them. She was an avid gardener and took great pride in her tomato and cucumber plants. She enjoyed traveling to Israel, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Naples Florida, and Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Over the years she has enjoyed the company of many pet cats. Joan was the loving and beloved wife of Gerald Hipke of Woburn. She was the loving mother of Jay & his wife, Laurie of Brentwood, NH, Jim & his wife, Julie of Manchester, NH, Joyce Nielson & her husband, Dave of Folsom, CA, and Jeanne Hipke of Acton, MA. Joan was the proud grandmother of Kimberly, Jared, Justin, Corinne, Kate, Kalen, Marlena, Emma, Anna, Brielle, Olivia, Jackson, Carson, Averil, Gian, Gunnar, Connor and Cruzi. A memorial service will be held at the Church of the Open Bible, 3 Winn St., Burlington, MA, on Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joan’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.