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Steven Arthur Tipton, 76, of Milan, Missouri, passed away Saturday, June 21, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.
Steve was born May 13, 1949 to Albert Earl and Jewell Tipton at Skiff Hospital in Newton, IA where he was born and raised. He attended High School where he graduated in 1967. After high school, he worked at Maples Chevrolet in Newton, IA. He joined the United States Army as a mechanic with HHC, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment was deployed during the Vietnam War in 1969. He received an honorable discharge while serving in Vietnam because of hearing loss sustained when a mortar exploded near him at his camp. His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal.
Upon his return from the Army, and started his Auto Body Repair business right here in Milan, MO in 1970 and he closed when he got sick in 2020. Steve married the Love of his life, Kathie Annis Tipton on August 29, 1970 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. From that marriage, he had three obnoxious children; Stephanie Sue Tipton (Milan, MO), Richard Earl Tipton (Joplin, MO) and Jeffery Charles Tipton and Ashley (Rinehart) Tipton (Jackson, MO). His grandchildren, Sarah Wilson & Nathen McCabe (Milan, MO), Anthony Wilson (Milan, MO), Jayden Tipton (Longview, TX) and Madison & Sydney Tipton (Jackson, MO) were his pride and joy; His Sisters, Joyce Hoerrmann and husband Linny (Green Castle, MO) and Bertha Mae Deaton (Newton, Iowa); and several nieces and nephews. Steve was also blessed with three fabulous great grandchildren; Remington, Rhett and Addyson McCabe, all of Milan, MO.
Steve was a member of the First Baptist Church (Milan, MO), a Charter member of Elks Lodge #2819 (Milan, MO) and American Legion Post 228 (Milan, MO).
As much as Steve enjoyed making crashed cars look new again, he found great joy in tearing them up as a member of the Derby Boys with lifelong friends, Jerry Eddy, Mike Weaver, Oran Truitt, and Tim Chapman.
Preceding Steve in death were Albert Earl Tipton (Father), Jewell Tipton (Mother), Judith Tipton (Sister) Debbie Tipton (Sister) and Joshua Truitt Tipton (Nephew).
A funeral service for Steve will be held 1:00 PM, Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the First Baptist Church in Milan, Missouri. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Milan, Missouri. A visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Friday evening, June 27th, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions are suggested to Oakwood Cemetery or the Milan First Baptist Church.