John "Jack" Pippo

John (Jack) Pippo was born in New Rochelle, NY, on March 30, 1972. He grew up in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, attended Coon Rapids public schools and graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1990. John joined the Minnesota National Guard between his junior and senior year in high school and served as Bridge Crewmember. John transitioned to the Regular Army where his leadership skills were recognized while deployed to Haiti (Operation Uphold Democracy) in 1994. At that time he was recommended for Officer Candidate School.
John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and chose to serve as an Armor Officer. During the course of his 24-year career, John served at numerous stateside locations and was also deployed overseas to Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. While in Afghanistan, John was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. John retired with the rank of Major in 2014.
John loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He especially loved deer season at the family cabin in northern Minnesota. John was also an accomplished chef and enjoyed preparing meals for his family and friends. A voracious reader, John was well-versed on a broad range of topics, especially history and theology. He was an extremely compassionate and caring person who would go out of his way to help people in need. John was a "difference maker" and will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends.
John is survived by his wife, Malinda Kendrick, two sons, Kaleb Pippo, and Joshua Pippo, two step daughters, Mackenzie Kendrick (with step-grandson Maveryck), and Marissa Kendrick, his parents Philip Pippo and Sandra Pippo, his sisters Stephanie Olson (Darren) and Theresa DeGroot (Troy) as well as nieces and nephews Trenton DeGroot, Ethan DeGroot, Elijah Olson, Greta Olson, Emma Olson, and Sam Olson.