David (Dave) Lee Klipping, 74, of Freeport, IL, died peacefully on Sunday, March 8 ^th .   David was born March 28, 1945. He was the son of Robert and Margery Klipping of Stockton. David was a graduate of Forreston High School and served in the Navy from 1965 – 1968.  David married Shirley Neumann on February 20th, 1971.  David is survived by daughter Beth Klipping of Holdrege NE, son Brad (Lindsay) Klipping of Ventura CA; sisters Mary (Dewey) Endress, Wendy (Brad) Lawrence, and Gayle (Keith) Arnold; brothers Terry (Linda) Klipping, and Tom Klipping. David was preceded in death by brother, Karl (Christine) Klipping.

Dave was a man of few words and many motorcycles… and cars, and boat motors, and old bicycles, and tractors and tools. He saw the specialness in weird old things that most people overlook.  He saved everything because he appreciated the utility of things – he knew he was going to eventually find a use for them.  I think part of him also loved finding a stack of old receipts in a shop manual and remembering the car or bike he was working on at the time.  He didn't take pictures, instead he collected and saved things that meant something to him.  And if you ever saw his garage, you know that a lot of things meant something to him!

Dave was a gifted mechanic, whether it was working on motorcycles, fixing things around the house, repairing the trucks he drove at work or re-building motors for antique tractors, he knew how to fix almost anything.  He was never much into polishing or showing off his cars or bikes, he was more content to ride, drive or work on them.  He enjoyed going to motorcycle events, swap meets and car shows.

Dad wasn't active in the community, and I can't list off a bunch of awards he received from organizations he belonged to.  He didn't relish recognition.  But he was always there for family and friends who needed a hand with a project. He'd show up with tools and patience and good advice.  He was fair and mostly kind, hard-working, respectful and committed to his family.  The greatest gift a parent can give is sharing a perspective that enriches their child's life.  My dad did this simply by the way he lived and the experiences he shared with my brother and me.  Many of the things that bring us the most joy in life are things we learned from him: motorcycling, old cars, back roads, road trips, solitude.  I can still remember the smell of the dirt at the salvage yard where he worked when I was barely in grade school and I will always love the smell of a musty old shop because it reminds me of my dad.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be shared at www.walkermortuary.com.