Darwin L. Schipper

Dr. Darwin L. Schipper of Preston, IA, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. He was 79 years old.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Preston. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Darwin was born on November 12, 1946, the son of Steno and Amelia (Wust) Schipper. He was raised in Allison, IA, where he attended local schools and graduated from Allison-Bristow High School with the class of 1964. From a young age, Darwin knew his calling was in veterinary medicine, an interest sparked and fueled while serving as a driver and helper for the local physician.

After high school, Darwin attended Wartburg College in Waverly for one year before transferring to Iowa State University, where he completed his education and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1971. He was constantly reading encyclopedias, journals, magazines, and newspapers—a habit of self education that he maintained his entire life.

While at Iowa State, Darwin was set up on a blind date with Jacquelyn Joy. The pair hit it off immediately. They were married on February 28, 1970, and together they raised three children and celebrated 55 years of marriage.

Following their graduation from Iowa State, the Schippers moved to Preston, drawn by an opportunity for Darwin to partner at the local Veterinary Clinic. Veterinary medicine was truly Darwin’s passion. He was out of the house by 5:00 a.m. every day to read journals at the clinic before heading out for coffee to "chew the fat" with whoever was around.

He was known for his work ethic and physical strength. In his younger years, he was built like a fireplug, and his children remember watching him vault over fences without a running start to get cattle in line. As time went on, he learned to work smarter to spare his body from the toil. Clients admired his professionalism; even when receiving emergency calls at 3:00 a.m., he would clear his throat and answer with an unbothered, steady, "Hullo, this is Doctor Schipper." Many of those clients became lifelong friends, and Darwin loved stopping by their farms just to shoot the breeze.

Darwin believed deeply in community service. He was a past member of the Community Foundation of Jackson County, the Library Board, and served as President of the Eastern Iowa Veterinary Association for a number of years. He remained involved with the Iowa State Veterinary College, conducting interviews and participating in white coat ceremonies. A faithful member of St. John's Lutheran Church, he served three terms as council president. He was incredibly proud to represent and support the Preston community.

Darwin possessed a good, dry sense of humor and an even-keeled demeanor; he never lost his temper, never complained, and never missed work. In his later years, he found joy in nature, turning his "little house on the prairie" into a "little house in the woods" by planting over 70 trees. Like his mother before him, he became an enthusiastic bird watcher, keeping detailed lists of the visitors to his feeders. He also enjoyed watching Blue Bloods and John Wayne movies.

Darwin will be dearly missed by his college sweetheart and wife, Jacque Schipper of Preston; son Dr. Brad (Dr. Sara) Schipper of Brownfield, ME, and grandchildren Noah (Moira) with a great-grandchild on the way, Anneliese, and Asa; son Darren (Dr. Helen Fuller) Schipper of Ann Arbor, MI, and grandchildren Graham and Josephine; daughter Laura (Denise) Barnard of Gilbert, AZ, and grandchildren Daniel and Barrett; sister Judy Kellogg of Norman, OK; sister-in-law Colleen Traster of Fort Dodge, IA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Darwin is preceded in death by his parents, Steno and Amelia; his in-laws, Kenneth and Ina Joy; and two brothers-in-law, Darold Traster and Timothy Kellogg.