John Stephen Kipper

John Stephen Kipper passed away on March 24, 2016. John was born on March 11, 1947 in Seattle, Washington. He was the third son of the late Joseph and Stephanie Kipper of Redmond, Washington. He was preceded in death by his wife Patt Kipper and brother, Richard Kipper. He is survived by his son Andrew and wife Karen of Mukilteo, his grandsons Alec and Noah, and stepchildren James Wilson, Stacey Chadwick, and Tina Kaiser. He is also survived by his brother James and wife Venus of Kirkland, and brother Robert and wife Jan of Lynden, as well as nieces and nephews Jeff, David, Katie, Julie, and Lindsay. John was a graduate of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California and went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree from Oregon State University. He completed his education by earning a Master's Degree in History from the University of Denver in 1969. It was in Corvallis, Oregon where John developed his lifelong love of OSU Beavers Athletics, and remained a dedicated fan no matter how poorly his team was doing. John loved his country and served as a Reserve Commissioned Officer in the United States Army. He worked for many years in hospitality management where he developed his passion for food, drink, and late nights. He was a skilled cook who enjoyed serving family and friends great meals, from traditional favorites to exotic recipes he found in obscure cook books. John was an avid reader who was always reading multiple books at the same time, ranging from historical non-fiction to sci-fi and suspense thrillers. He was a loyal conservative and Francophile, and he was always happy to spend time telling you why you should be too. John loved to help others. He especially loved helping young people get past obstacles in their lives, believing in them, and encouraging them to become thriving adults. He was a loving father and grandpa who cared deeply about his family. He died after a long battle with cancer and will be sorely missed.