Obituary: Betty Jean Tipler

Dec. 15, 1941 – Aug. 9, 2019 

Betty Jean Tipler, 77, of Sturgeon Bay died peacefully at home. Betty was born in Fish Creek to Walter and Agnes (Resler) Eckert. (Betty was also known as Jeanie by many of her early friends and family.) Betty grew up in Egg Harbor on the bluffs of Horseshoe Bay Farms. 

On Nov. 7, 1959, she married the love of her life, Armand Herbert Tipler, at the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church. Theirs was a true love at first sight. They made their home and raised their family in Whitefish Bay. From an early age, she had a love for the Lord and was an active member of the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, teaching Sunday School for many years and serving on the board.  

Betty loved people and had two careers that allowed her to meet many folks: first as a waitress and then as a realtor. She was an active member of the Door County Board of Realtors, was awarded the Honor Society status for many years and served positions as director, president, president elect VP and secretary/treasurer. She was proud to help set up the Door- Kewaunee MLS service and served as an MLS board member. She was chosen as Door/Kewaunee County Distinguished Realtor of the Year in 2004 and was honored with several other awards and designations. She worked under several agencies but was proudest of being the owner/broker of American Home Realtors. 

Betty was a hard worker who loved to be involved in her children’s activities in the Door Doers 4-H club and her sons’ Boy Scout clubs. Through her service, she built many relationships in her community.

Family was foremost in her life. Some of the best memories of her adult life were spent with Armand, Molly, family and friends at their cabin on Lily River by Lily Lake, Wisconsin. In Door County, Armand and Betty’s home, shop and fish shed were always full of family and friends. Betty loved to have a large gathering for holidays, birthdays, Sundays, fish boils and any time that there was enough perch to fry. Betty loved her family; the Fourth of July parade in Baileys Harbor; Murphy Park at Horseshoe Bay; Cave Point; taking rides in the truck with Armand and their dog, Molly; ice fishing on Clark lake; fishing on the bay off Sawyer Harbor; her bear collection; baking crazy cake for special people; the beauty of fall leaves; and singing along to Patsy Cline. She never missed a sunrise over Lake Michigan. Betty was loved and will be missed by all.

Survivors include Betty and Armand’s three children, daughter Donna (Craig) Tlachac of Vista, California, and their children, Chelsea (Jeremy) Curtright, Tyler (Stephanie) Tlachac, and Justin (Andrenae) Tlachac; son Mike (Diane) Tipler of Sturgeon Bay and their children, Robert (Shana), Daniel (Sandy), Ashley, Jamie (Telly), Sam (Sadie), and Alex; son Steve (Lynne) Tipler of Sturgeon Bay and their children, Nicholas, Samantha, Nathaniel, Mikayla, and Olivia; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Ann Wendt; two brothers, Edward (Chris) Eckert of Gilbert, Arizona, and Bill (Patsy) Eckert of Brussels, Wisconsin. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and her brother Walter Eckert Jr.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 17, 11:30 am, at the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church, with the Rev. Reeder Herrick officiating. Burial will follow at Bayside Cemetery. Friends may call on Aug. 17 at the church, 9:30-11:30 am. Forbes Funeral Home and Cremations is in charge of arrangements. A tribute page is available at forbesfuneralhome.com.