Born in the United States to Finnish immigrant parents Joel and Marija, John Riippa was the eighth of ten children. If parents could be said to favor certain children, John was his father's favorite; Joel never failed to protect his son, whether from the neighborhood bullies or from the teasing of his sisters.
John attended school only up to the fourth grade before circumstances, including the death of his father, forced him to work to support his family. His entire work history is unknown, but military records show that his job, as of 1941, was "heavy truck driver."
On March 7, 1941, John was inducted into the United States Army in Escanaba, Michigan, serving until September 27, 1945 as a light truck driver with grade TEC 5 (corporal). John served his country nobly during the course of World War II, fighting in Normandy, as well as other parts of northern France, Rhineland, and central Europe as part of the 202nd and 772nd Field Artillery Battalions. While serving near the town of Broue, France, in late 1944, John was commended for his heroic service in action by Major General Haislip. According to John's hometown newspaper, the general, who awarded John a Bronze Star, described the young private's actions as follows:
"When an ammunition trailer towed by a four-ton truck caught fire, he with the aid of another soldier crawled under the truck and uncoupled the trailer. Private Riippa then clung to the undercarriage of the truck while it was being driven away from the danger area. This action was accomplished without regard for the exploding grenades and fuses in the burning trailer and without regard for the 100 rounds of 155 millimeter ammunition and burning camouflage net in the rear of the truck. By his heroic action, he saved the lives of many people, a four-ton truck with its load of ammunition, and the town of Broue, France, from possible destruction. Private Riippa's courage, coolness, and initiative in a moment of great stress merit the highest praise."
Subsequent injuries in action in Bining, France resulted in a Purple Heart. John's decorations, in addition to the aforementioned medals, also included the European-Middle Eastern-North African Campaign medal, the World War II victory medal, the American Defense Service medal, and a unit commendation.
After mustering out, John returned home to the Upper Peninsula, where he married Helvi Lofback of Mass City on February 14, 1946. As a civilian, he owned and operated several businesses in Houghton County. The two main ones were Riippa Oil (a gas station), located near Toivola and Winona, and Riippa Lumber, which he co-owned with his brother Arnold Riippa. The lumber business was undoubtedly John's favorite of his industries. He proudly carried pencils reading "Wood is good" and believed it was a resource of unlimited potential. In keeping with this belief, he was a member of the Lumber Producers of Michigan and Wisconsin and the Northeastern Loggers Association as well as an annual attendee at the Logging Congress.
John's gas station still stands today on the main road near Twin Lakes, but the saw mill's grounds are privately owned and trespassers are forbidden.
In addition to his business accomplishments, John also served as Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Hancock. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Copper Country Shrine Club, and the American Legion (Alfred Erickson post). He had been the president of the Elm River Township school board and a member of the Range Lions Club.
John was an extremely industrious person who never hesitated to speak up when he felt that others did not show proper respect for the average working man. He felt very strongly about the rights of such a man to work to provide for his family and advocated for the creation of new natural resource jobs in the Upper Peninsula as the mines closed.
A logging accident claimed John's life in 1971. His funeral was attended by many members of the community and fellow World War II veterans from across the country. Surviving were his wife Helvi, three sons, and a daughter. Also alive at the time of John's death were his siblings Jim, Yalmer, Helmi Pietila, Julia Bloom, Esther Felix, Alina Barkkari, and Arnold. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother Andrew and his sister Lempi Garfield.
John attended school only up to the fourth grade before circumstances, including the death of his father, forced him to work to support his family. His entire work history is unknown, but military records show that his job, as of 1941, was "heavy truck driver."
On March 7, 1941, John was inducted into the United States Army in Escanaba, Michigan, serving until September 27, 1945 as a light truck driver with grade TEC 5 (corporal). John served his country nobly during the course of World War II, fighting in Normandy, as well as other parts of northern France, Rhineland, and central Europe as part of the 202nd and 772nd Field Artillery Battalions. While serving near the town of Broue, France, in late 1944, John was commended for his heroic service in action by Major General Haislip. According to John's hometown newspaper, the general, who awarded John a Bronze Star, described the young private's actions as follows:
"When an ammunition trailer towed by a four-ton truck caught fire, he with the aid of another soldier crawled under the truck and uncoupled the trailer. Private Riippa then clung to the undercarriage of the truck while it was being driven away from the danger area. This action was accomplished without regard for the exploding grenades and fuses in the burning trailer and without regard for the 100 rounds of 155 millimeter ammunition and burning camouflage net in the rear of the truck. By his heroic action, he saved the lives of many people, a four-ton truck with its load of ammunition, and the town of Broue, France, from possible destruction. Private Riippa's courage, coolness, and initiative in a moment of great stress merit the highest praise."
Subsequent injuries in action in Bining, France resulted in a Purple Heart. John's decorations, in addition to the aforementioned medals, also included the European-Middle Eastern-North African Campaign medal, the World War II victory medal, the American Defense Service medal, and a unit commendation.
After mustering out, John returned home to the Upper Peninsula, where he married Helvi Lofback of Mass City on February 14, 1946. As a civilian, he owned and operated several businesses in Houghton County. The two main ones were Riippa Oil (a gas station), located near Toivola and Winona, and Riippa Lumber, which he co-owned with his brother Arnold Riippa. The lumber business was undoubtedly John's favorite of his industries. He proudly carried pencils reading "Wood is good" and believed it was a resource of unlimited potential. In keeping with this belief, he was a member of the Lumber Producers of Michigan and Wisconsin and the Northeastern Loggers Association as well as an annual attendee at the Logging Congress.
John's gas station still stands today on the main road near Twin Lakes, but the saw mill's grounds are privately owned and trespassers are forbidden.
In addition to his business accomplishments, John also served as Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Hancock. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Copper Country Shrine Club, and the American Legion (Alfred Erickson post). He had been the president of the Elm River Township school board and a member of the Range Lions Club.
John was an extremely industrious person who never hesitated to speak up when he felt that others did not show proper respect for the average working man. He felt very strongly about the rights of such a man to work to provide for his family and advocated for the creation of new natural resource jobs in the Upper Peninsula as the mines closed.
A logging accident claimed John's life in 1971. His funeral was attended by many members of the community and fellow World War II veterans from across the country. Surviving were his wife Helvi, three sons, and a daughter. Also alive at the time of John's death were his siblings Jim, Yalmer, Helmi Pietila, Julia Bloom, Esther Felix, Alina Barkkari, and Arnold. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother Andrew and his sister Lempi Garfield.
Born in the United States to Finnish immigrant parents Joel and Marija, John Riippa was the eighth of ten children. If parents could be said to favor certain children, John was his father's favorite; Joel never failed to protect his son, whether from the neighborhood bullies or from the teasing of his sisters.
John attended school only up to the fourth grade before circumstances, including the death of his father, forced him to work to support his family. His entire work history is unknown, but military records show that his job, as of 1941, was "heavy truck driver."
On March 7, 1941, John was inducted into the United States Army in Escanaba, Michigan, serving until September 27, 1945 as a light truck driver with grade TEC 5 (corporal). John served his country nobly during the course of World War II, fighting in Normandy, as well as other parts of northern France, Rhineland, and central Europe as part of the 202nd and 772nd Field Artillery Battalions. While serving near the town of Broue, France, in late 1944, John was commended for his heroic service in action by Major General Haislip. According to John's hometown newspaper, the general, who awarded John a Bronze Star, described the young private's actions as follows:
"When an ammunition trailer towed by a four-ton truck caught fire, he with the aid of another soldier crawled under the truck and uncoupled the trailer. Private Riippa then clung to the undercarriage of the truck while it was being driven away from the danger area. This action was accomplished without regard for the exploding grenades and fuses in the burning trailer and without regard for the 100 rounds of 155 millimeter ammunition and burning camouflage net in the rear of the truck. By his heroic action, he saved the lives of many people, a four-ton truck with its load of ammunition, and the town of Broue, France, from possible destruction. Private Riippa's courage, coolness, and initiative in a moment of great stress merit the highest praise."
Subsequent injuries in action in Bining, France resulted in a Purple Heart. John's decorations, in addition to the aforementioned medals, also included the European-Middle Eastern-North African Campaign medal, the World War II victory medal, the American Defense Service medal, and a unit commendation.
After mustering out, John returned home to the Upper Peninsula, where he married Helvi Lofback of Mass City on February 14, 1946. As a civilian, he owned and operated several businesses in Houghton County. The two main ones were Riippa Oil (a gas station), located near Toivola and Winona, and Riippa Lumber, which he co-owned with his brother Arnold Riippa. The lumber business was undoubtedly John's favorite of his industries. He proudly carried pencils reading "Wood is good" and believed it was a resource of unlimited potential. In keeping with this belief, he was a member of the Lumber Producers of Michigan and Wisconsin and the Northeastern Loggers Association as well as an annual attendee at the Logging Congress.
John's gas station still stands today on the main road near Twin Lakes, but the saw mill's grounds are privately owned and trespassers are forbidden.
In addition to his business accomplishments, John also served as Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Hancock. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Copper Country Shrine Club, and the American Legion (Alfred Erickson post). He had been the president of the Elm River Township school board and a member of the Range Lions Club.
John was an extremely industrious person who never hesitated to speak up when he felt that others did not show proper respect for the average working man. He felt very strongly about the rights of such a man to work to provide for his family and advocated for the creation of new natural resource jobs in the Upper Peninsula as the mines closed.
A logging accident claimed John's life in 1971. His funeral was attended by many members of the community and fellow World War II veterans from across the country. Surviving were his wife Helvi, three sons, and a daughter. Also alive at the time of John's death were his siblings Jim, Yalmer, Helmi Pietila, Julia Bloom, Esther Felix, Alina Barkkari, and Arnold. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother Andrew and his sister Lempi Garfield.
John attended school only up to the fourth grade before circumstances, including the death of his father, forced him to work to support his family. His entire work history is unknown, but military records show that his job, as of 1941, was "heavy truck driver."
On March 7, 1941, John was inducted into the United States Army in Escanaba, Michigan, serving until September 27, 1945 as a light truck driver with grade TEC 5 (corporal). John served his country nobly during the course of World War II, fighting in Normandy, as well as other parts of northern France, Rhineland, and central Europe as part of the 202nd and 772nd Field Artillery Battalions. While serving near the town of Broue, France, in late 1944, John was commended for his heroic service in action by Major General Haislip. According to John's hometown newspaper, the general, who awarded John a Bronze Star, described the young private's actions as follows:
"When an ammunition trailer towed by a four-ton truck caught fire, he with the aid of another soldier crawled under the truck and uncoupled the trailer. Private Riippa then clung to the undercarriage of the truck while it was being driven away from the danger area. This action was accomplished without regard for the exploding grenades and fuses in the burning trailer and without regard for the 100 rounds of 155 millimeter ammunition and burning camouflage net in the rear of the truck. By his heroic action, he saved the lives of many people, a four-ton truck with its load of ammunition, and the town of Broue, France, from possible destruction. Private Riippa's courage, coolness, and initiative in a moment of great stress merit the highest praise."
Subsequent injuries in action in Bining, France resulted in a Purple Heart. John's decorations, in addition to the aforementioned medals, also included the European-Middle Eastern-North African Campaign medal, the World War II victory medal, the American Defense Service medal, and a unit commendation.
After mustering out, John returned home to the Upper Peninsula, where he married Helvi Lofback of Mass City on February 14, 1946. As a civilian, he owned and operated several businesses in Houghton County. The two main ones were Riippa Oil (a gas station), located near Toivola and Winona, and Riippa Lumber, which he co-owned with his brother Arnold Riippa. The lumber business was undoubtedly John's favorite of his industries. He proudly carried pencils reading "Wood is good" and believed it was a resource of unlimited potential. In keeping with this belief, he was a member of the Lumber Producers of Michigan and Wisconsin and the Northeastern Loggers Association as well as an annual attendee at the Logging Congress.
John's gas station still stands today on the main road near Twin Lakes, but the saw mill's grounds are privately owned and trespassers are forbidden.
In addition to his business accomplishments, John also served as Worshipful Master of his Masonic Lodge in Hancock. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Copper Country Shrine Club, and the American Legion (Alfred Erickson post). He had been the president of the Elm River Township school board and a member of the Range Lions Club.
John was an extremely industrious person who never hesitated to speak up when he felt that others did not show proper respect for the average working man. He felt very strongly about the rights of such a man to work to provide for his family and advocated for the creation of new natural resource jobs in the Upper Peninsula as the mines closed.
A logging accident claimed John's life in 1971. His funeral was attended by many members of the community and fellow World War II veterans from across the country. Surviving were his wife Helvi, three sons, and a daughter. Also alive at the time of John's death were his siblings Jim, Yalmer, Helmi Pietila, Julia Bloom, Esther Felix, Alina Barkkari, and Arnold. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother Andrew and his sister Lempi Garfield.
Inscription
MICHIGAN
TEC 5 - BTRY A - 772 FLD ARTY BN
WORLD WAR II
PURPLE HEART
Family Members
Siblings
Children
