Paul Richard Kipper

Paul Richard Kipper was born on April 16, 1928, in Cortland, Nebraska, and passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, in Henderson, Nevada. He spent his early life in the Havelock neighborhood of Lincoln, Nebraska, and graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1945.

Paul enlisted in the United States Army in 1946 and served in the occupation forces in Korea. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended the University of Nebraska, where he played both football and basketball. Paul graduated with a degree in education. His love of sports and competing evolved into a lifelong career in sports officiating.

Paul officiated high school football and basketball, as well as umpiring baseball and softball. His career in officiating spanned over 65 years, including being named to the Wyoming Sports Officials Hall of Fame in 1994. Paul took great pride in developing new officials as well as officiating games. He especially enjoyed officiating games with his sons.

While attending the University of Nebraska, he met the love of his life, LaRue. Paul married LaRue (Hendrickson) on June 9, 1951, and enjoyed nearly 71 years of love until her passing in May, 2022. They had six children: Greg, Kristi, Scott, Lori, Karla, and Lana.

Paul started his career in education as a teacher in Waco, Nebraska, where he not only taught but also coached basketball and softball, among other sports. During the summer months, Paul returned to the University of Nebraska and earned his Master's Degree in Education Administration. They moved to Oshkosh Nebraska where he served as Superintendent at Garden County High School. From there, they moved to Ogallala Nebraska where Paul was the Principal at Ogallala High School.

In 1967, Paul went to Laramie, Wyoming, where he worked at the College of Education in the Adult Education field while completing the coursework for his doctorate degree in Education Administration. While at the University of Wyoming, Paul was instrumental in developing a program to take educational opportunities to residents of Wyoming rather than requiring those students to attend classes in person on campus by flying professors to Wyoming communities.

Paul retired in 1990, and he and LaRue moved to Henderson, Nevada, in 1992. Paul’s great loves in life were his wife, LaRue, and being around his family. He took great joy from his six children, eleven grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren. He and LaRue enjoyed traveling extensively around the United States, Mexico, and Europe. He was honored to serve as the long-time Treasurer for the Mountain-Plains Adult Education Association.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Larue; parents: Joseph and Joanna Kipper; his brothers: Matthew, William, Thomas, and Daniel; and his sister, Theresa (Dakan). He is survived by his children: Greg and his wife Nancy, Kristi and her husband Mark, Scott and his wife Ann, Lori, Karla and her husband Robert, and Lana and her husband David. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Palm Mortuary - Henderson, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015, on March 4, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 204 S Boulder Hwy, Henderson, NV 89015, on March 5, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.

Military Honors and Burial will be held at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005, on March 5, 2026, from 10:40 am to 11:10 am.