Vernon Jay Pippel

Vernon Jay Pippel, age 84, of Jenison, Michigan, died on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, after many long struggles with his health.  Vern was born and raised in Zeeland, Michigan, and graduated from Zeeland High School.  After serving in the U.S. Army in Korea, he later attended and graduated from Ferris State College.  Vern then began his drafting career at Rapistan, later moving to a long career at General Motors until he retired.  He was married to the late Shirley Pippel for 60 years, and was a resident of Grandville, Michigan, for 50 of his 84 years.  Vern is survived by his two sons, Craig (Teresa) Pippel, Bradley (Lois) Pippel; three grandchildren, Benjamin and Jacob Pippel, and Kelsey (Robert) Lewis; one great-grandson, Silas Lewis; sister, Joann Nieboer; sister and brother-in-law, Eugene (Lynn) Cox; sister-in-law, Marlene Cox; and many nieces and nephews. Vern was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Lena Pippel; wife, Shirley Pippel; two brothers-in-law, Jack Cox and Keith Nieboer; and two nephews, Douglas and David Nieboer. He was very involved in his faith life, local churches and fellowships, and was a current member of River of God Church where he was involved with the seniors’ friends group.  His faith taught him, and he passed to others, who we are in Christ and to have hope and anticipation of our personal salvation through Christ’s love and sacrifice for all. Vern was quite involved in his grandchildren’s lives, as he and grandma lived only one-half mile away from all three.  His grandchildren were involved with his care and oversight until the very end, helping to keep ‘an-eye-on-grandpa’. Throughout the years, Vern enjoyed traveling, history, golf, gardening and lawn care, high school basketball games, and his grandchildren’s high school sporting events.  He was an avid Civil War history buff, and seemingly could never go on vacation without taking a picture by old cannons. Vern was a caring, responsible, encouraging, generous, and Godly man toward his wife and children, grandchildren, and his greatest love on earth, his great-grandson, Silas, who he knew for only 19 months. Vern will be missed by all who knew him, has left an ample supply of memories among family and friends, and will always be a standard for all to measure themselves by. On Saturday, August 22, 2020, the family will be hosting a memorial picnic to celebrate Vern’s life.  You are invited to join them anytime between 5-8 p.m. at 3049 Carmel Ave. SW in Grandville.