Wyomissing church unveils bell carillon in honor of Shillington man

Cody Gipprich spent his life bringing joy to others, say those who knew the late Shillington man.

So on Sunday Gipprich was honored at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing, where a new digital bell carillon was dedicated in his memory, with the music it plays intended to spread happiness just as he did.

Gipprich, 36, died May 12 while working for the Western Berks Water Authority when he became trapped in a pit amid rising water and suffered fatal injuries.

Though he didn’t belong to Atonement Lutheran, he had good friends who are members, and someone anonymously donated $10,000 to buy the carillon in his name.

The machine was played for several minutes following each of the church’s two Sunday morning services, demonstrating several of the more than 2,000 songs, chimes and peals it contains.

The plan is to play a hymn at noon each day, according to music director Tom Yenser, who said the church does not want to annoy anyone in the neighborhood with the carillon, but hopes the neighbors will enjoy and appreciate its music.

Yenser said he’s impressed by how similar the carillon’s sounds are to live bells.

“It’s amazing to me as a musician who is used to playing real instruments, not electronic ones,” he said. “It’s a wonderful addition to the church.”

Family friend Ken Lord agreed, saying the bell sounds will bring good feelings, just as Gipprich did.

“Cody was always smiling and making others around him happy, so how appropriate that these bells are dedicated in his memory,” he said.

Matt Lord, who is Ken’s son, was a friend of Gipprich’s since they were in ninth grade together.

“He was gentle and kind and selfless,” Matt said. “He was the person who always came to help.”

Though the music that Gipprich enjoyed most was classic rock from bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC, he enjoyed music in general, and surely would love the carillon being dedicated to him, said his wife Jami Gipprich.

“He’d be floored by this,” said Jami, who attended Sunday with Gipprich’s mother, Tacy Gipprich, and his brother, Chase Gipprich, both of Shillington.

“It’s just amazing to see the amount of people who looked up to him,” Jami said.

Source: Berkshire mont