John Kuipers Obituary

John M.B. Kuipers passed away Sunday, February 28, 2010 surrounded by family at his home. He was born December 28, 1921 in Platte, SD, to Peter and Cora Kuipers. He grew up in Mitchell, SD. In 1942, John enlisted in the Army Air Forces, and trained in gunnery at Kingman Army Air Field. He served in the Burma, India, China theater for 4 years, with the renowned Flying Tigers. He returned to Mitchell, and married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Hasz, and joined his father and brothers in Kuipers Construction Company. He was active with Masons and Shriners, and was a passionate fisherman. In 1968, he moved his family to Colorado Springs, where he and his brother, Ralph, continued in masonry construction. Later in life, he pursued the development of an oil/water treatment product. John was a “man's man,� with a deep and abiding faith and love for Christ. He and Phyllis were members of First Lutheran Church in Mitchell, and then in Colorado Springs. His pride and joy was his family. He delighted in his daughters and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his daughter Cynthia (and husband Michael) Smith; daughter Barbara (and husband Thomas) Muzzy; and grandchildren: Jillian Smith, John-Scott Smith, Nicole Muzzy, Jacob Muzzy, and Joshua Muzzy. John was preceded in death by his infant son, John Scott Kuipers, his parents, four sisters, and three brothers. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 5, at First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to First Lutheran church, or Pikes Peak Hospice.