Alta M. Lipari

Alta M. Lipari, 95, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away January 13, 2009. She was born April 29, 1913 in Manning, Iowa to Fred and Matilda Mangular Kuhn. She lived in Riverside, California until moving to the Kansas City area in 1979.

Alta, known to family and friends alike as "Nanna", was a proud wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She followed her husband Jim throughout his military career and always found ways to make new friends as well as make a difference. She was named Woman of the Year at Ellsworth Air Force base for establishing and maintaining the Teen Club and led a Girl's Scout troop wherever they landed. Alta's love for socializing led her to the Avon Company with whom she was a sales representative for more than fifty years. Alta had a competitive spirit, so time away from work and family was often spent with a close group of friends who shared her passion for bridge and skill at bowling. She also was quite accomplished at needlepoint and often bestowed her family with gifts of her handiwork. But perhaps her most favorite pastime was gathering family or hosting friends around the table to delight them with a wonderful feast. She loved to boast that her talent in the kitchen once won her a pound of butter a week for an entire year! Alta's many talents and lovely blue eyes will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Alta was preceded in death by her parents, by her husband Lt. Col. James R. Lipari, by her daughter Sandrina M. Pate and by her grandson James R. Pate and by her brother Vernon Kuhn and her sister Hazel Parsons.

She is survived by her grandchildren; Melissa Pate, Dr. Brian Pate, and Michael Pate and his wife Stacy. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren; Hannah Kroenke, Samantha Gabbert, Samuel Pate, Nicholas Pate, Noah Pate, and Sara Pate. A sister Bernice Champlin and a son-in-law Michael Pate and his wife Rebecca also survive her.

Memorial Contributions in Alta's memory may be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society or Kansas City Hospice House.

Visitation and Funeral Service

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wed. Jan. 21, 2009 at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee with a visitation prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.