Douglas Lippstreu

Douglas P. Lippstreu, 64, formerly of Lincoln, NE and Raymond, KS, died Sunday, March 7, 2021. Doug passed away with his family at his side at his home in East Lansing, MI, where he recently moved to be closer to them.

Doug was born March 18, 1956 in Hastings, NE to Stanley E. Lippstreu and Margie E. (Blackburn) Lippstreu, the youngest of four brothers. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1974. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Kearney State College, now the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where he earned his teaching degree. He also met the love of his life at Kearney State, Patricia “Patty” Emmons. They were married in 1984 and had two boys.

For much of his life, Doug was a teacher and will be remembered for helping many people over the years. He followed his mother and many others in her family in a long tradition of education. Early in his career he was an English teacher at Ord High School in Ord, NE. After working at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln, Doug was an English Language Learners teacher for Lincoln Public Schools, with most of his time there spent at Lincoln Northeast High School. Doug helped many immigrants who had come to the United States learn about our country and language. He was loved by his students and made a big difference for them.

Later, Doug and Patty moved to Raymond, KS where they were teachers at nearby Chase High School. Doug really enjoyed being a teacher at Chase and made many friends among the educators, students and people in his community. He also served as the school’s forensics team coach. The year before his retirement, Doug was selected to be the commencement speaker for the Chase High School graduation, something he was very honored to do.

In addition to being an educator and friend, Doug will also be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was always a big part of his boys’ lives, including spending several years as a Lincoln Little League coach and sharing his love and talent for music with kids of all ages in Lincoln. His favorite thing to say about both music and baseball was, “As you practice, so shall you play.” As someone who was devoted to his family, one of the most special things of all for Doug happened recently when he became a grandfather to Abraham Wyant Lippstreu, in January.

Doug is survived by his wife Patricia Lippstreu (Emmons) of East Lansing, MI; sons Charles Lippstreu (Monica Wyant) of Grand Rapids, MI and Chesterfield Lippstreu of Denver, CO; brothers Kenneth Lippstreu of Prudenville, MI, Randall Lippstreu (Tami) of Scottsbluff, NE, and Robert Lippstreu of Hastings, NE; grandson Abraham Wyant Lippstreu of Grand Rapids, MI; nephew Scott Lippstreu (Jessica Golden) of New York, NY; niece Angela Roberts of Lincoln, NE; and niece Kate Hales (August) of New York, NY. Doug was preceded in death by his grandparents and his parents, Stanley and Marge Lippstreu.

Cremation via Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Lansing, MI. A celebration of Doug’s life with family and friends will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions will be forwarded to USD 401 School District in Chase, KS, where Doug was a teacher. This will support the creation of a new outdoor education classroom for this rural school district serving Rice County. For more information, visit www.gofundme.com/douglippstreu. Alternately, memorials can be sent to Charles Lippstreu, c/o Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823, and will be forwarded to USD401.