A funeral mass will be said for John Vincent Krippaehne on Saturday, March 2nd at 11:30am, Saint Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

John Krippaehne was born in Puyallup, Washington on September 17, 1928 to Violet Marie and William August Krippaehne and reared in a devout Catholic household. He had 5 older siblings: Mary, William, Charles, Helen and Fred. John’s mother died when he was 4 years old, hence his siblings all had a very large role in his upbringing, and he remained very close to them during his life. He had a very special relationship with his oldest brother Bill, and they shared in many experiences including holidays, fishing, firewood cutting, investments and vacation homes side by side on Devil’s Lake.

John grew up in a home of self-reliance. Very early, he sold newspapers, worked at a service station and delivery service and saved most of his earnings. He graduated from Puyallup High School in 1946 and enrolled in the University of Washington. While there, he participated in the Navy ROTC program to help pay for school expenses. In June 1951, he graduated with a pharmaceutical degree, received his navy commission, and married MariAnn Johnson. They moved to Coronado Island, the homeport for the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge. John served for 2 years as Lt. j.g. attached to the Valley Forge and saw duty during the Korean War. While he may have left the Navy, the Navy never left him. He remained a naval enthusiast for the rest of his life, maintaining a 60 year membership of the Navy League, attending a 50 year ceremony at the Naval College, and a 5 day cruise aboard the USS Kitty Hawk as highlights. Upon his discharge, they moved to Portland where John was offered the supervisor position at Braley’s Pharmacy in the Medical Arts Building. In 1956, he enrolled at the UofO dental school during which he maintained his pharmacist duties and became a charter member of the St. Elizabeth Church congregation. After graduating from dental school in 1959, he assumed the dental practice of Dr. Leo Boyer in the Morgan Building and shortly thereafter moved into the Portland Medical Center.

In 1960, his first son, John Vincent was born, and in 1962, James Arthur was born. That era was hallmarked by work, rearing a family, collecting antiques, and attending swim meets. In 1975, MariAnn died after a 3-year battle against breast cancer. On March 5, 1977, he married Frances Kent Wise, mother of 4 children, Liz, ZA, Kent and Amy Wise. In their 36 years of marriage, John and Frannie traveled to numerous places including Dubai, Europe, China, Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas. They enjoyed entertaining, playing cards with friends, gardening, their beach house, and hosting holidays with their children and grandchildren.

In 1990, his son Jim joined him in his dental practice and moved into the KOIN Building. Professionally, John was a member of the honors fraternity OKU. He was also elected by his peers into the American College of Dentist and International College of Dentists. He served on many levels of the Multnomah Dental Society and Oregon Dental Association and joined the board of ODS when the company was nearly insolvent. For 30 years, he taught one day a week in the Oral Diagnosis Department at the OHSU dental school where he was an associate clinical professor and an Aetna regional dental consultant for many years.

In 2000, John retired from dentistry and enjoyed life immensely, including further travel, fishing trips, daily exercise at the Mac, friendships, entertaining, building a new home on Devil’s Lake, watching his children raise their families and going to the office every Wednesday for lunch with his dental buddies. The end of John’s life was brought about by latent affects of hepatitis.

John is survived by his wife, Frannie, brother Fred, sons John (Laura), Jim (Polly), grandchildren Ellen, Christopher John and Elise Krippaehne and Frannie’s children and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances sent to the William Krippaehne Surgical Education Endowment (OHSU Foundation, 1121 SW Salmon St. #100, Portland, Or 97205), Providence Hospice, or the charity of your choice.

Facts Born: September 17, 1928
Place of Birth: Puyallup, WA
Death: February 25, 2013