Declan Jack Pippel

Declan Jack Pippel left this earth in the loving hands of God Monday, September 10, 2012. He was fourteen years old and in the ninth grade. He was born August 7, 1998 in Spokane, WA and was an instant joy to his parents, Shawn and Wendy Pippel and his brothers, Shamus and Travis. He was a happy baby with a full head of hair and wise eyes. He moved with his family to Wenatchee when he was three. Declan felt and loved deeply. From the time he was small it was clear that he truly cared about the feelings of others and he remained a champion for the underdog, the weak, the misunderstood. He was level-headed in a crisis, would offer his shoulder to lean on, ever ready with a smile or a joke to lighten the mood. He couldn’t stand for as much as a slug to be harmed. Declan had a unique perspective on the world which often showed up in his quirky sense of humor, from one-word observations to goof-ball antics. Most people he met ended up with a funny story they could recall about him. Declan was a precocious, imaginative child and words were his forte. He started reading at an obnoxiously early age and devoured books like candy. He loved to play with computers and technology, tweaking and customizing everything he got his hands on. Declan enjoyed a great number of hobbies and skills. He joined Wenatchee School of Karate when he was five and was preparing to test for his black belt early next year. He was a Boy Scout and was working to reach Eagle someday. He played the bass guitar and the double bass. He was an active member of the youth group at his church. In his short years he had travelled often and relished adventure, having flown a plane, hiked glaciers in Alaska, scuba-dived in Hawaii, tasted the salty water of the Atlantic. He loved photography, played football, climbed trees, skied like a madman, swam, biked, kayaked, went rock climbing, strove to build the perfect campfire, and that’s just scratching the surface. He loved bacon, chocolate milk, and frozen yogurt. He loved so much and was loved by so many. His life was too short; there was so much more for him to give, for him to experience. For the family and friends he left behind, the pain of his absence is indescribable. We can only take solace in the wonderful memories Declan has left us and the solace of the knowledge that he is in the arms of a loving God. Declan was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jack Pippel; grandfather, Leemon D. Thomas; and great-grandmother Mabel Huddle. He is survived by his parents Shawn and Wendy Pippel; brothers Shamus Pippel and Travis Ray all of East Wenatchee; grandmothers Kathleen Thomas, Barbara Pippel, and Dawn Swanson; aunt Kelly Makus; grand uncle Bruce Pettit; grand aunt Stefanie Pettit; cousins Trinity Makus and L. Dale Thomas III. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at Celebration Lutheran Church, 801 Eight Street NE, East Wenatchee. A trust fund “In memory of Declan Pippel” is through the Community Foundation of North Central Washington. Tax-deductible contributions can be sent as a check or money order to: “In Memory of Declan Pippel” CFNCW, 9 S Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801. The foundation will distribute these funds on his behalf to the Boy Scouts of America and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of NCW. Questions can be directed to Beth Stipe at beth@cfncw.org. Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones-Betts Funeral Home.

Tributes

Declan Jack Pippel

August 7, 1998 - September 10, 2012