Lester Harry Liptak

Les Liptak was born at home on September 26,1932, in Hopewell, Pennsylvania. His father was Lester Harry Liptak and his mother was Anna Ondilla Liptak. He was the oldest of seven children. The family moved to Cadillac, Michigan, after his father died in Pittsburgh, while Les was still a youth. He joined the Navy at age 15 with a modified birth certificate. He did this to help support his mother and younger siblings still at home. He served 24 years honorably in the Navy & had a very distinguished career. A few of his many accomplishments were serving in the Berlin airlift, incredible support to numerous locations around the world and serving in Antarctica. He was crew-chief to Conrad “Gus” Shinn, and they flew many missions charting the undiscovered lands of the Antarctic during the 1950s. One day, while map making, they experienced a “hard landing”. The plane was disabled, and they were assumed dead. After a few days they managed to repair the radio & contact their base. The base flew & air-dropped repair parts onto the site. They repaired the plane and with the assistance of 6 Jato tubes were able to fly back to base. Years later a mountain in Antarctica was named after him, “Mount Liptak.” After his service, he pursued a carrier in banking and became assistant vice president in charge of building branch banks. When he retired from banking, he worked for a local construction firm, utilizing his skills in sales & knowledge of construction. He retired in 1996 at the age of sixty-four. Les and Cindy met in Eau Claire, Wisconsin & were later married on New Year’s Eve 1984. That was always a special reason for the two of them to celebrate New Year’s Eve. He shared his great love of the outdoors with all who knew him. Fishing, hunting and camping were everyone’s best memories of their relationship with both Les and Cindy. In their later years they traveled extensively in their RV with friends and enjoyed traveling the US, Mexico & Canada. On one of the trips, Cindy discovered Florida & said “Let’s move!” and thirty days later they were on their way to Florida. Les worked as a Volunteer for many years at the Naval Air Museum at NAS-Pensacola & it brought him so much pleasure. His relatives & friends all enjoyed the special tours he gave with his individual touch. He loved the many friends they have made since settling in Florida 23 years ago. He will be missed by many. Preceded in death by: Parents Lester Harry Liptak and Mother Anna Ondilla Liptak, brother Tom Feely, daughter Kelly Miner Survivors: Wife of 40 years Cynthia Liptak, sister Mary Ann Liptak Yonkman Manistee MI, Brothers Richard Liptak (Judy) Boone MI, Steve Liptak (Lois) Oviedo FL, Paul Liptak Bruce Crossing MI, son Les Liptak Jr., (Tami) Cadott, WI, daughter Laura Ederer (Kevin) Thorp, WI, son Phillip Liptak, son Mathew Ottum, (Michelle) Stuart, FL, Grandchildren, Phillip Liptak Jr., Stephanie Slocum, Andrea Ederer & Arica Drager & many great grandchildren, nieces & nephews Pallbearers: Les Liptak Jr., Mathew Ottum, Troy Petry, Chuck Botsford, Michael Allsop, Eric Allsop, Ryan Allsop & Phillip Liptak Jr. Honorary Pallbearer: Steve Liptak

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Lester Harry Liptak

September 26, 1932 - December 29, 2022