Charles “Chuck” Murray Kiple, 86, of Ottumwa died October 26, 2026 at Vista Woods Care Center.
He was born November 11, 1939 in Ottumwa to Clifton D. and Gertrude C. Bensink Kiple. He married Sandra Sue Orman November 19, 1981 and she preceded him in death March 18, 2025.
A 1957 graduate of Ottumwa High School, Chuck attended the University of Iowa where he played football and was part of the 1958 Rose Bowl Team. He graduated with a BBA in 1961. He had worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. as an assistant manager from 1961-62 in Davenport, from 1963-64 in Waterloo and as manager in Mason City Group from 1964-65. Serving in the U.S. Army and the Iowa Army National Guard from 1962 to 1968, he also graduated with a JD with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1968.
Returning to Ottumwa, he was an associate for Barnes & Schlegel Attorneys for a short time. Chuck and his brother, Jim started their own law firm in 1969 where he practiced law until retiring as partner from Kiple, Kiple, Denefe, Beaver, Gardner and Zingg Attorneys on January 1, 2001. Chuck served as President of The Kiple Company, overseeing their properties and operations. He also served as a Director and Secretary of L & W Quarries, Inc. as well as Director and Secretary of Ideal Ready Mix Co, Inc. until January of 2024. He was the City Attorney for the city of Eldon, IA from 1969-2000, and the city of Agency, IA from 1970-1998.
He was a member of the Wapello County Bar Association where he served as Treasurer from 1969-71 and President from 1979-80, 8th Judicial District Bar Association, and the Iowa State Bar Association where he served on the Committee on Judicial Administration, the Committee on Labor Law and the Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law. He was a member of the Iowa Supreme Court Commission on Unauthorized Practice of Law and the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission. He was also a member of the Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association, the Board of Governors of the Iowa State Bar Association, Life Fellow of the Iowa State Bar Foundation and the American Bar Association.
A member of First Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa, he had been a member of Empire Masonic Lodge #269 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite, KAABA Shrine, O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, B.P.O. Elks Lodge #347 for 60 years, Izaak Walton League and Rotary Club of Ottumwa.
He served on the board of Directors of the Ottumwa Area Chamber of Commerce, member and Past President of Ottumwa Area Development Corporation, Director and Past President of Ottumwa Family YMCA, Past Director of Ottumwa Regional Health Center Foundation, Past Director of American Home Finding Association, and has served as a Director of the Wapello County Foundation from 2000-2022; serving as President of the Foundation from 2016-2021.
Chuck and Sandie enjoyed traveling in their Airstream trailer, spending winters in Texas and leading caravans throughout North America. They were members of The Wally Byam International Caravan Club , serving as National Caravan Leader from 1999-2016.
Surviving are his three children, Melissa Kiple of Ottumwa, Charles “Chip” (Shari) Kiple of Sergeant Bluff and Abigail (Jeff) Leonard of Ottumwa; eight grandchildren, Grant (Claire Carlson) Gullion, Bailey Gullion (fiancé, Brittany Gonzalez), Hunter (Madison) Gullion, Lyndi Kiple, Grace Kiple, Clark Kiple, Mac Payne and Benjamin Logan; his brother, James L. Kiple of Decorah; two nieces and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-in-law, Deborah Kiple.
Visitation will be open after 11 a.m. Friday, November 6th at Reece Funeral Home with his family present to greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 6th.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, November 7th at Reece Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion and Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Memorials may be made to the Wapello County Foundation.
