Randy Kiliper passed away on August 9, 2023, after a long fight with cancer. A public visitation for Randy will be held on August 15, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church (516 Kellogg Ave, Ames, IA 50010) from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., with a celebration of life service at 11:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow. A private burial will be held at a later date. Online condolences can be made to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com


Randy was born to Marilyn and Jerry Kiliper in 1954 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Randy attended Fort Dodge public schools and in 1959 he went to his first kindergarten class. It was on that day he met Marianne, his best friend for life, his future wife and his constant companion. Randy participated in all the high school activities, including football, wrestling, track and student council. He graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1972. He enrolled at Iowa State University in the fall of 1972. While at ISU he joined the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and continued a lifelong friendship with many fraternity members. Randy graduated from ISU in 1976 with a B.S. in Industrial Administration. Randy and Marianne were married in August, 1976. They lived in Iowa City for one year while Marianne finished her pharmacy degree and Randy completed the MBA program, both at the University of Iowa.

In 1977 Randy and Marianne moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he accepted a job with 3M Company and was promoted through a series of manufacturing positions. During this time in the Twin Cities, they were blessed with two children: Lindsay Lenore in 1982 and Thomas Jerome in 1984, both the joys of his life, then and now.

In 1985 Randy was transferred to Ames, Iowa, where he and three others ran the 3M Ames abrasives plant. Randy left 3M in 1992 and started a printing company, Kiliper Corporation. The company has expanded considerably over the years and is currently owned and run by his children, Lindsay and Tom.

In 1998 Randy and Marianne purchased a home on West Okoboji which has been a great source of fun and laughter with family and friends. There are many good memories of spending days on the lake and playing games at night.
In 2015 Randy and Marianne purchased a condo on Sanibel Island where many new friends and memories were made. They enjoyed walking the beach with their dog, Rilee, shelling and biking. Sanibel became their happy place.
Randy and Marianne's five grandchildren have been a light in their lives and provided lots of activities to attend!

Randy and Marianne are members of First United Methodist Church in Ames and attended United Church of Christ in Sanibel.

Randy is survived by Marianne, his wife and best friend of 47 years, his two children Lindsay Maysent (Andy) and Tom Kiliper (Natalie), his mother Marilyn Kiliper and three siblings Lisa (Steve), Terry (Deb) and Laurie (Rick). He is also survived by the five grandchildren he loved so deeply: Harrison and Carolyn Maysent and Henry, Calvin and Jack Kiliper. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Kiliper.

Memorial contributions are welcomed and will benefit the William R. Bliss Cancer Center, First United Methodist Church in Ames and CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in Sanibel, Florida.