Jacqueline Sippel Wagner

*****Due to weather conditions, services will be held at the Funeral Chapel on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  Please drive carefully!

Services for Jacqueline “Jackie” Sippel Wagner, 89, of Groton will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday March 11th at the Presbyterian Church, Groton.  Rev. Terry Kenny will officiate.  Burial will follow in the spring in Union Cemetery, Groton under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. 

Visitation will be held at the chapel on Friday from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Jackie passed away at Avantara Groton on Monday, February 27, 2023.

Jacqueline Ann Hinckley was born on August 6, 1933, to Max Hinckley and Ruth (Rix) Hinckley on her grandparent’s farm north of Groton.  The young family moved to Michigan and to Iowa as jobs were hard to find during the depression.  In 1941, Ruth, Jackie, and her brother Rix moved back to the Groton area.  Throughout her youth, Jackie spent a lot time with her Uncle Arden and Aunt Dorothy Rix and developed a special bond with her cousins Carol and Katie. 

The family moved to Aberdeen where Jackie attended elementary and high school.  During this time, her mother Ruth, married Joe Volk, and a new baby sister, Julie, was added to the family.  Jackie adored her little sister, and they remained extremely close until Julie’s death in April 2021. 

Jackie graduated from Aberdeen Central in 1951 and attended Northern Teachers College earning her teaching certificate.  Jackie’s first teaching job was in Redfield, SD and then closer to home she taught at country schools north of Groton, and in Andover, SD.  She married Orylin Sippel on October 15, 1955 and the couple moved to Pierpont, SD.  To this union 2 sons were born, David and Dana.  To her surprise, Orylin bought their farm east of Pierpont on the day Dana was born, using the money she had put away from her teaching jobs as a down payment on the farm.   As Orylin and Jackie moved to their new home, Jackie continued to teach at area schools, and completed her bachelor’s degree in education from Northern State College. Orylin passed away on November 18, 1981.  Jackie continued teaching and operating the farm with her son. 

On July 6, 1987, Jackie married Paul Wagner and the couple made their home on his family farm near Roslyn, SD. Paul and Jackie were great companions and loved to travel. They enjoyed many road trips with Paul’s motor home and spent several years wintering in Texas.   Paul and Jackie eventually moved to Groton, SD in 2007.  Paul passed away on January 20, 2012.  Jackie continued to live in Groton and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends in the area.

Throughout her life, Jackie’s favorite place was PIckeral Lake.  As soon as the weather allowed, she was “at the lake” and waited until the last minute to close in the fall. Her extended family has a row of cabins together, so her time there was filled with family and fun.  Everything was better “at the lake”.  Jackie shined as a grandmother and loved nothing more than spending time and spoiling her grandchildren.  They also developed a love for the lake and spending time at “Grandma’s cabin”.  As her health started to decline, she appreciated the watchful eye and help from her lake neighbors, cousin Arden Dohman and brother-in-law, Tom Job, which allowed her the independence to continue enjoying as much time as possible at the lake.

Jackie was a strong and independent woman, who devoted herself to her family. She was loyal, almost to a fault, had a great sense of humor, quick wit, and realistic outlook on life. She enjoyed running into former students and would joke “they changed quite a bit since Kindergarten, I almost didn’t recognize them!” Recently, while reflecting on her life, she said “I think I did the best I could with what I had.”

Jackie was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Groton.  She also belonged to the Pierpont American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by her sons David Sippel, and Dana (Aimee) Sippel all of Pierpont, 4 step-children, Cheryl (Jay) Dwight of Langford, SD, Terry (Patty) Wagner, Bill Wagner, and Mary Wagner, all of Roslyn, SD, and Marilyn (Jim) Vietor of Pierre, SD, brother-in-law Tom Job of Sioux Falls,sister-in-law Joy (Andrew) Perkins, Texas.  Grandchildren, Jill (Jeff) Serocki, Diane Sippel, Tory (Becca) Sippel, Jacob (Theresa) Sippel, Jordan (Jon) Lemke, Taryn Sippel, Sage Sippel and Bryn Sippel.  She is also survived by many step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Close to her heart were her siblings’ surviving children, nephew, Chris (Elizabeth) Hinckley, and niece, Jessica Job.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruth Volk Ingham and Max Hinckley, husbands, Orylin Sippel and Paul Wagner, her brother Rix Hinckley, sister Julie Job, niece Jennifer Job Massa, and step-son Loren Wagner.

Memorials may be directed to the Presbyterian Church or Groton Area Elementary School, to be used for children in need.

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