Aaron Ripperda

Cpl. Aaron J. Ripperda, age 26, of Madison, Illinois, died in the line of duty, on March 18, 2013, in Hawthorne, Nevada.

Aaron was the victim of a mortar shell explosion at an army depot during a training exercise.

Aaron graduated from Highland High School in 2005.  He did some college work in Chicago before graduating from a St. Louis culinary school. 

Saint Elizabeth Fyodorovna,
pray for Aaron

He joined the Marine Corps in September of 2008. He had served previous tours of duty in Haiti and Afghanistan. 

Aaron joined the military to see the world.  He was just nine weeks away from ending his career in the military. 

He loved cooking and sailing, and had plans to buy a new boat once he moved back home.

Family members are proud of Aaron and will forever miss him. 

Aaron is survived by many loving friends and relatives.

Pray for all who die by misadventure. They are with us one moment and gone the next. Amen.

Thank you for serving, Aaron.

Let us pray that Aaron is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.