By Lois Pearlman, Argus-Courier Staff

Calling it "senseless" and "useless," friends and family of Petaluma Marina Harbor Master Wayne Kipp, 43, mourned his sudden death in an apparent vengeance killing Christmas weekend.

Police have arrested Petaluma resident James Webb for Kipp's murder.

During the week that followed the slaying, bouquets of flowers, farewell messages and other mementos filled the walkway in front of Kipp's office at the marina. Construction paper cutouts of his young sons' handprints, saying "Merry Christmas, Dad" hung from the door.

Kipp was a popular figure around Petaluma, known as much for his generosity and even-tempered disposition as he was for his fishing and sailing expertise.

A memorial service for Kipp took place Saturday, Dec. 30 at the Petaluma Community Center.

Born in Michigan City, Ind., Kipp began his career on the water after his family moved to Honolulu.

For several years he worked as a delivery person for sailboat owners and a crew member on racing sailboats. After he married his former wife, Katherine Neville, they worked together on the sea until they moved to Petaluma 13 years ago.

The couple had two sons, Cody, 10, and Graham, 7. They eventually divorced, but remained friends and continued to raise their sons together.

A few years ago Kipp became partners with a Petaluma woman, Elizabeth Frayne, and became a second father to her three youngsters.

In 1994 the Petaluma Parks and Recreation hired Kipp to run its marina, where he gathered rental fees, issued day passes, handled emergencies and made boaters feel welcome.

"He was excellent, very personable, very lenient with people. If there was a problem, he always tried to work things out," said Parks Director Jim Carr.

Regulars at the marina said Kipp went out of his way to make sure his customers were happy.

"He used to help our club in any way he could," said Phil Hervé, a member of a local outrigger canoe club. "He was more a person who wanted to be part of a solution than part of a problem."

Hervé described how Kipp loaned the outrigger club his Global Positioning System, a navigational device, when the club was participating in a race on San Francisco bay.

"He knew there was a good chance of fog and he programmed in all the buoys for us in case we couldn't see our marks," Hervé said. "You would have to go some distance to find a better person. In my world travels -- and I have been all around the world -- I have not met a finer human being."

In his later years Kipp became an avid fly fisher, traveling from Mexico to Alaska with his fly fishing buddies, members of the Russian River Fly Fishers.

His main fishing partner, Petaluma resident Lee Soares, said Kipp's "first passion was being a good father to his and Liz's kids, and his second passion was fly fishing."

Since Kipp was a contract employee and not entitled to life insurance benefits from the city, a memorial fund has been set up for his two sons and Frayne's children.

All contributions should be sent to Bank of the West, Wayne Kipp Memorial Children's Fund, 311 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 94954.

Contributions in his memory can be made to United Anglers of Casa Grande High School, 333 Casa Grande Road, Petaluma 94954.

Kipp is also survived by his parents Herb and Elaine Kipp,, his sisters Linda and Gail, and his brothers Curtis and Doug.

Fund to assist harbor master's children
A memorial fund to help provide for the children of slain harbor master Wayne Kipp has been established. Kipp, who was murdered in his office at the Petaluma Marina on Dec. 22, was the father of five children, all under the age of 11. Because Kipp was a contract employee with the city, there are no city insurance benefits or pension funds going to the family. Contributions may be mailed to: Bank of the West, Wayne Kipp Memorial Children's Fund, 311 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, 94954. Contributions may also be made in person at any Bank of the West branch.