October 8, 1930 - January 21, 2018

Retired Los Angeles Fire Captain and long time resident of Downey California, Barney Nipp, joined his wife Cleta (Peggy) Nipp in heaven in the early morning hours on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Services for Barney will be at St. Raymond Catholic Church in Downey on Friday, January 26th at 10:30 am.

Barney Nipp was born October 8, 1930 in South Dakota to John and Anna (Buckley) Nipp. He moved with his parents to the Struble, Iowa area and helped them farm along with his six siblings, first near Struble then south of Le Mars, Iowa then just outside Merrill, Iowa. Barney graduated from Le Mars Public High School and then went on to the National Guard. He moved to the Los Angeles area where he became a Fire Fighter, serving in the Los Angeles Fire Department from 1958 to 1990. He was Fire Fighter of the Year in 1989. His life’s work is still preserved in the LA Fire Museum where he was a founder. He proudly served there, continuing to participate in pancake breakfasts and ceremonies until his passing.

He is survived by eight of his nine children: Bernice Brunner, Collette Foster, Carol Atria, Sharon Moore, Paula Urbina, Janet Nipp, Marlene Nipp and David Nipp. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Vicky Vasquez.