Kirk Edward Hippensteel

On the morning of Thursday, March 3, 2016, Heavenly Father opened His arms and welcomed Kirk into His grace, after a courageous battle with malignant metastatic melanoma. He was 70 years old. Kirk was born on December 27, 1945, in Huntington, Indiana. He was the youngest of five children born to Dale and Thelma Hippensteel. Kirk was raised on a dairy farm where he assisted the family business by tending to the livestock and was a member of the 4H club. Kirk loved to spend time with his grandfather. By the age of five, his beloved grandfather taught him all of the US Presidents in chronological order. He also loved his dog, Tawney, who enjoyed catching bumble bees. He was an active athlete throughout his life involved in basketball, baseball and tennis. Kirk was the valedictorian of his graduating high school class and was immediately accepted into Manchester College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1967. He was then accepted into the medical program at Indiana University where he was awarded his Doctor of Medicine in 1971. Kirk enlisted into the Navy where he served as a Force Medical Officer on the Admiral staff in the Middle East from 1972-1973. He served as a member of staff in Jacksonville, Florida at the Naval Medical Center from 1973-1974. He completed his residency in the Internal Medicine Department at the Naval Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1976 where he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. Kirk completed his fellowship within the Pulmonary Medicine Department at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland where he was Assistant Head of the Pulmonary Disease Division, and he was certified by the Subspecialty Board of Pulmonary Disease in 1978. Kirk ended his Naval career as the Assistant Head of the Pulmonary Disease Division at the National Medical Center in 1979. During this time he was honored to have been invited and attend the inauguration of former President Jimmy Carter. In 1980, Kirk joined two of his fellow Naval colleagues and dear friends, Dr. Rick Castle and Dr. Bruce Stewart, as a partner in their practice, Pulmonary Medicine Associates in Roanoke, Virginia. During his time at the medical practice, he also partnered with the Pulmonary Occupational and Research Consultants as a Sub Investigator for multiple Phase III clinical study trials. He also served as a defendant and plaintiff medical consultant. Always committed to education, Kirk was a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine from 1980-2009. In 2009, Kirk retired from Pulmonary Medicine Associates in Roanoke and moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, joining in a partnership at Lung and Sleep Associates of Las Cruces. During this time he also worked for Memorial Medical Center, Mountain View Regional Medical Center and the Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico. He retired from Medical practice in 2013, but continued to work as a pulmonary and occupational consultant and part-time for Weatherby Healthcare as a Medical Doctor. Kirk genuinely enjoyed medicine and sharing his knowledge with others. He also loved gliding and was a member of the White Sands Soaring Association. More than anything, he cherished spending time with his grandchildren and was extremely proud of them. He loved traveling throughout the world, and Kirk was a true foodie before it was fashionable. Kirk was preceded in death by his parents Dale and Thelma Hippensteel, father-in-law James A. Krantz of Huddleston, Virginia and son Phillip Michael Moreno of Roanoke, Virginia. Kirk is survived by his wife Pam, the love of his life, and his little buddy King Neptune. Children KJ and Rachel Hippensteel, Anthony and Sarah Moreno II and Brittany Moreno. "Papa Kirk" was blessed with six beautiful grandchildren, whom he loved with all of his heart and brought him much happiness, pride and joy: Kaylee Breanna Davis, Joshua Anthony Gutierrez, (Trey) Anthony Lee Moreno III, Dakota Jordan Moreno, Jacob Elliott Robles and Phillip Matthew Moreno. Siblings Peter and Delores Hippensteel, Bruce and Judy Hippensteel, Stan and Jean Hippensteel and Lynn Hippensteel, as well as many nieces and nephews. In laws, Martha and Marvin Edwards of Bedford, Virginia. Special Auntie Eleanor Blankenship of College Park, Marlyand. Kirk is also survived by extended family members Dennis and Dottie Sink of Hardy, Virginia, Dr. Rick and Lynda Castle of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and special ‘little brother' Ruben and Joanne Ramirez. Special Thanks to: Denton and Valarie Park and family, Julie Blanchard, Dr. Alan Orellana, Dr. Alex Arzabala, Dr. William Adler, Lynn Arnold and the entire staff of MMC Cancer Center, Mountain View Regional Medical Center, Memorial Medical Center (CCU, ICU) and the Advanced Care Hospital of Southern New Mexico. The viewing will be held on Friday, March 11, 2016, from 5:00-7:00 pm. The service will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 10:00 am at: Getz Funeral Home 1410 E Bowman Avenue Las Cruces, NM 88001 A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held immediately following the service at Dr. Hipp's home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NMSU Foundation, PO Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003, with a notation for the Dr. Kirk E Hippensteel Respitory Therapy Scholarship Fund. Memorial gifts can be made online at https://advancing.nmsu.edu/givenow. Please write in ‘the Dr. Hippensteel Fund. PDF Printable Version