Tipping, Kenneth John

Kenneth John Tipping of Cedar Rapids, was born Jan. 7, 1934, in Derby, England. He was diagnosed with a rapidly-progressing brain tumor in December and passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, in Iowa City.

Left to mourn are his loving daughter, Diane Tipping Graber; granddaughters, Hannah Margaret and Sarah Barbara Graber; and former son-in-law, William (Bill) Bernard Graber of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Minnie Preston Tipping and John Tipping; and his infant brother, Dennis Tipping; all of Derby, England.

Ken attended Derby School for Boys, was a trained mechanical engineer and retired from Amana Refrigeration as manager of advanced manufacturing engineering.

He married Maureen Mulholland on Dec. 15, 1956. Theirs was a committed and deeply loving marriage. He was a devoted caregiver for decades; she died in Cedar Rapids on Oct. 17, 2011.

The family emigrated to America, arriving on the HMS Queen Elizabeth in 1967. They made their home in Iowa, primarily in Cedar Rapids.

He served on the advisory board at the University of Iowa College of Engineering and belonged to several professional engineering institutes, in the U.S. and the U.K. He was a contributor to the Bygones section of his hometown newspaper, the Derby Evening Telegraph.

Ken enjoyed steam trains, buses, trams, airplanes and ships. He enjoyed travel, walking for fitness at Westdale Mall and the Cherry Hill trail, and was a proud and supportive grandfather. He was well-respected and had an Englishman's sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 11 a.m. at Teahen Funeral Home by Pastor Brenda Mitchell. Friends may visit one hour prior.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Rapids Public Library, Iowa City Hospice or Iowa City Friends of the Animal Center Foundation.