Carl Siperko

Carl Kennth Siperko Sr. died November 1, 2016 in Springfield Missouri. Carl was born August 8, 1935. He was born in Wilkes barre Pennsylvania. He is the son of Lewis and Linnea Siperko and one of 17 children. He is survived by his two sisters Ellen Yost and Barabra LaCivita . His ten children, Deeja Powell, Karen Mabe, Shirley Jones Peppler, Cassie Haas. Tonya Siperko Calderon, Carl Siperko Jr., Brian Anders Damsgaard, Kennth Siperko, Jesse McCoy, Linnea Siperko. His fourteen Grandchildren Christina Robinson, Ashely Hinkle, Kelsey Otwell, Brittney Mitchell, Anastasia Clark,Timothy Robison, Christopher Nicely, Gunner Siperko, Karlee Siperko, Boston McCoy, Tony lender Damsgaard, Charlotte McCoy, Maria Jonette Damsgaard, Khloe Siperko. His seven Great-grandchildren, Arianna Robison, Michael McCray, Elijah McCray, Avery Mitchell, Eli Mitchell, Adelina Nicely. Dad was referred to as the black sheep among the 17 children his parents birthed. He had a carefree life style and loved to have a good time. His biggest contribution to this world was his beautiful 10 children. He was a charmer among the ladies in his earlier days. My father was a painter in San Diego in the early 70's and later worked in construction. He loved to work with wood and build things. I remember as a child he would take trips with his old pickup truck and load it down with antique furniture in which he would refinish and sell later. I remember one rip to Georgia were he came home with the truck so piled I wondered how it didn't fall off onto the highway. He was the master of stacking. He also loved going to Auctions and bidding on antique furniture. We never had any new furniture in our house just beautiful old refinished antiques. My brother and I went many times to these auctions with my father and mother. They were long days at the Auctions but we had so much fun playing with the other children and exploring. To this day I still love to go to auctions. I didn't have much contact with my father after the age of 10 years old until he was older and came to live with me. I remember going to the Greyhound station to pick him up. I didn't know what to expect when he got off the bus in Missouri and not seeing him for 30 years. There stood a chubby old man with a walker. I had always remembered him as a strong man and now he stood in front of me as an old fragile man. That evening in bed I cried thinking of all the loss time and how I remembered him as such a strong man now returning as a fragile old man, as young women I always knew in my heart that he would return one day and I would care for him until he passed. Our conversations were not detailed and mostly about day to day events but sometimes he would cry when he talked of the past and mention of his children. I believe his guilt was hard for him to carry at times. He loved to set on my front porch and would wait every day for me to get home from work. We would sit on the front porch eating popsicles in the hot summer heat rocking on the white rockers sometimes in silence but he was happy just sitting there peacefully. I did not know it at the time but we were creating new memories. There is one thing I learned from my father "Forgiveness". I hope that all his children can find this forgiveness and the strength that comes with it. Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." My father never had anything and when he passed I went to collect his things. He had the two old duffle bags that he arrived at the Greyhound station with. Inside the duffle bags were unopened bills and photos of his children. His wallet was empty other than an expired ID and old business cards and photos of his children and grandchildren. Although he had nothing of value to most people those two duffle bags were full of his gift to the world, his children. If his wealth could be measured by his children he died a wealthy man. Our God is one of forgiveness and knows a man's heart. I thank god for allowing me these last few years to show my father what unconditional love is. Tonya Lee Siperko