Paul Ipock Retires After 28 Years of Service

Published 7:39 pm Tuesday, November 10, 2026

By Joe Rios

After 28 years as Webster County’s presiding commissioner, Paul Ipock is preparing to retire from a position he never expected to hold when he first walked into a county commission meeting nearly three decades ago.

At 72, Ipock says it’s time to step back, enjoy life, and let someone else lead. While the decision brings mixed emotions, he looks back on his years in office with appreciation for the people he’s served.

“I love this county,” Ipock said. “I’ve had some wonderful people to work with, and I like what I’ve done.”

His connection to Webster County goes back to childhood.

Ipock’s parents were originally from the area but moved away in the 1940s. The family returned in 1957, when he was three years old, and settled on a dairy farm west of Seymour.

He married in 1973, and he and his wife have been married for 53 years. Together, they raised three children and operated a dairy farm from 1976 until 2006.

Although he sold his dairy cows, Ipock continues to live on the farm, raising cattle and hay.

His journey into county government began with something that might seem small today: a disagreement over whether a country road should remain open.

In the mid-1990s, a group of residents wanted to close a road near Belford Bridge. Ipock, who owned farmland nearby, believed the road was still needed.

School buses traveled it, along with milk trucks and feed trucks serving local farms.

When a petition was circulated to close the road, Ipock gathered signatures opposing the proposal and appeared before the county commission to explain his concerns.

It was his first time participating in a commission hearing.

Later that afternoon, then-Presiding Commissioner Don Rose called with the decision.

“The road will stay open,” Ipock recalled Rose telling him.

That experience left a lasting impression.

“I made up my mind right then. When that man retires, I want to run for that job,” Ipock said.

He believed county government needed leaders willing to listen, consider the circumstances and make decisions based on what was best for residents.

When Rose announced his retirement, Ipock entered the 1998 race for presiding commissioner. He faced a crowded Republican primary before defeating Democrat John Bill Greer in the general election.

What began with a country road became a career that would span nearly three decades.

During those years, Ipock watched Webster County grow considerably.

He recalled that the county had just over 28,000 residents when he took office. Today, he estimates that number has climbed to more than 40,000.

For county government, that growth has meant trying to keep roads, infrastructure and public services in step with the needs of more residents.

“We’ve tried our best to keep up with the flow,” Ipock said.

He considers that one of the county’s greatest ongoing challenges and believes it will remain a major responsibility for future commissioners.

But when asked about the most difficult period of his time in office, Ipock didn’t hesitate.

“The biggest challenge we ever faced was COVID,” he said.

The pandemic brought business closures, public health restrictions and difficult decisions that affected people throughout Webster County.

For Ipock, those decisions were especially personal.

The residents affected were often people he knew from church, local businesses and everyday life. Many were frustrated by the restrictions and didn’t always understand why county officials were taking certain actions.

Ipock recalled how the county worked to distribute government assistance to help struggling businesses cover rent, utilities and other expenses.

He said some businesses classified as nonessential were still important to the residents who relied on them.

The goal, he explained, was to help those businesses survive an uncertain time.

As he looks toward retirement, Ipock says Webster County’s financial future will also depend on supporting its local businesses.

He described the county as a sales-tax-supported community, noting that it does not rely on a county property tax for its general operations.

With continued growth bringing more demands on services, he believes maintaining that local business base will be important.

For incoming Presiding Commissioner Alan Rost, Ipock has confidence that the county will be in good hands.

He believes Rost will do a good job leading the commission through the projects and challenges still ahead.

And if Ipock could leave one message for the next generation of county leaders, it would be about the people they represent.

“They will be working with some of the greatest people in the United States,” he said. “Webster County is a wonderful county. It’s full of good people, understanding people.”

Before leaving office, Ipock hopes to visit with many of those residents during a retirement luncheon honoring his 28 years of service.

The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Marshfield Community Center, 114 Commercial St., in Marshfield.

Ipock recalled hosting cookouts and fish fries during past campaigns, inviting residents to visit with him and asking for their votes.

This gathering will have a different purpose.

“This time I’m asking people to come so I can thank them for their support,” he said.

After nearly three decades of county meetings, difficult decisions and watching Webster County grow, Ipock says leaving is bittersweet. There are projects he’s proud of and others he knows will continue long after his retirement.

Still, he believes the time is right.

“If you’re going to stop and enjoy life, you probably ought to,” Ipock said.

And as he prepares for his next chapter, he has one final message for the community.

“I’d just like to thank people for their support throughout the years.