Brian Eugene Lippold

Brian Eugene Lippold, 48, of Des Moines, IA, passed away suddenly at his home during the morning of April 6th, 2023, due to complications of a long-fought battle with a seizure disorder.

Brian was born November 15, 1974, to his parents Eugene "Gene" and Marianne Lippold in Des Moines IA. Brian entered this world and took his place as the fourth child, and third son, in what would become a family of seven children. They brought him home to Fremont Street where he grew and found his place in the tight knit neighborhood. Brian rode his bike down Fremont's impossibly steep hill at break-neck speeds awing the neighborhood kids. Each Evil Knievel like run ended its trek on a homemade ramp that should have collapsed each time he took to the air but somehow remained standing. This is where his guardian angel surely learned what he was in for. He climbed the neighbor's apple tree to get the apple at the very top, because it had to be the best. He lounged on the front stoop with his bike on its kickstand and his friends loafing with him watching traffic, as was the tradition at the time. He played Grandview baseball, learned to become a fantastic trumpet player, mastered the moonwalk, climbed the ranks to be Captain of the Safety Patrol, and his doodles quickly turned into works of art.

As the family grew, Brian became the big brother to three little sisters, he added babysitter to his repertoire but did not sacrifice his play to do it. Often Brian could be found at the local Quick Trip standing at the video game trying to get a new high score. Sarah, the youngest, was usually asleep, balanced on his shoulders using his head for a pillow while Katie and Calli sat content on the floor next to him destroying some nickel candy.

In December of 1989, as Brian was months into establishing himself in the halls of East High, the family moved. His older siblings remained in the Fremont family home while Brian and his younger sisters migrated south to Osceola, IA. Instead of being a respected freshman in the metro school his older siblings had gone to Brian faced the challenge of being the new kid at Clarke Community High School, a rural Iowa school. He had little in common with his new classmates and struggled to find his place. Brian became the class clown and developed a knack for pushing the limits of the rules. He worked hard at fitting in among the country boys at Clarke and finally did. He rode his horse regularly the one mile to the neighbor's house down the dirt road to go out and hunt racoons or fish. He learned the extraordinary importance of not underestimating the reach of a snapping turtle and how to fish for them. He learned that cutting thistles and putting up hay were the common summer jobs and he became an established farm hand. Through these jobs Brian earned enough money to get his first car, a Buick Skylark, which was his pride and joy through graduation. Though Brian had created attachments in Osceola he still felt the pull to Des Moines where he had spent most of his life. After graduation, in 1993, he returned to Des Moines moving back to his childhood home and neighborhood where his older siblings still resided.

Brian had a knack for salesmanship and pursued opportunities to further develop himself professionally along that career path. In 1994, Brian met Jennifer Doke whom he described as "the love of his life" to anyone who would listen. Brian loved Jenny's talents and humor and talked constantly about her, her family, and her goals. He was clearly in love. They married, and together welcomed their son Matthew into the world. Brian was over the moon in love with his new son, wife, and married life. Both new parents fawned over Matt and Brian dubbed him with the nickname Chief, as Matt was clearly the boss of the family.

In 1997, Brian took a fall that resulted in massive skull fractures, among other injuries. He sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a lifelong seizure disorder. This injury forever changed the course of his life. The immediate recovery portion was extensive and required that Brian start over with his life. Learning to function with a TBI and seizure disorder was very different from his life before the accident.

Brian explored many career paths, as his interests varied. He pursued sales at Montgomery Ward, Sears, Noble Ford, Anchor Motors, and as a vacuum salesman. He was a computer programmer, blackjack dealer, mechanic, lawn care specialist, bar owner, laborer, and craftsman. During, and in between his professional meanderings, Brian was able to fit in small adventures here and there. The adventure that, no matter how many years passed, he continued to talk about as if it were yesterday, was the trip he took to Chicago with Matt.

At 48 years old, Brian had led a life of wandering. He was unhappy much of the time because he didn't really want to wander and tried many times to stop. One of the longest and happiest attempts to be stationary that Brian had were the years he spent with Andrea Harryman, whom he loved. He knew what the important things in his life were, though he often wasn't able to step into the responsibilities he knew were his. Brian loved his family, most particularly his son Matt whom he was forever proud of.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Marianne Lippold and infant sister Anna.

He is survived by his Son Matthew (Mariah); his siblings: Christi (Kit), Ted, Kevin (Michelle), Calli (Jason), Katie (Kristopher), and Sarah (Matthew); his nieces and nephews: Jessica, Molly, Justin, Christian, Alex, Autumn, Peyton, Sawyer, Nolan, Abel, Frankie, Vinny; and his great niece Audrey.

Brian will be interred at St. Marys Cemetery in St. Marys, IA. A private family service will be held beforehand.

Memorial donations may be sent c/o Katie Green at 3104 E Titus Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320.