Obituary for David Phipps

David John Phipps, age 72 of La Crosse, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2022.  Born in the Pacific Northwest on November 5, 1949 to Wendell and Thelma (Southward) Phipps, David earned his doctorate at the University of Iowa and then made his home in La Crosse as an instructor of music with a specialty in strings, particularly violin. He taught at Viterbo University and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, retiring from that position in May 2022. David enjoyed many seasons playing with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, and also composed pieces, sometimes dedicating them to students. David–“Dave” to his friends–had an encyclopedic knowledge of classical music as well as movies, and a quirky sense of fun. He could speak in whole sentences using just the first letter of every word, a feat he could pull off with amazing speed. He often took long walks in Hixon Forest, greeting dogs and their people along the way. Colleagues and friends will remember his love for all their pets and the little rhyme he’d recite about each one: “A very good beast to say the least!” David was a very good teacher and friend to say the least, a very good brother to his sister Kathryn, and uncle to his niece Ceiridwen. We will all dearly miss him.   The Sletten-McKee-Hanson Funeral Home of La Crosse, Wisconsin is assisting the family with arrangements.  Please visit www.affordablecremationlacrosse.com to share online condolences.