Sergeant (E-5) Kenneth D. Van Riper, Jr.
died Sept. 18, 1978, as a result of injuries
sustained in a military vehicle accident
while on maneuvers in Fort Campbell,
KY. He was the husband of Bonnie M.
(Reuter) Van Riper, who gave birth to a
son, Matthew D. Van Riper, on Sept. 29,
1978.

SGT Van Riper was a passenger in a
“gamagoat” vehicle, which overturned on
the Fort Campbell reservation. At the
time of the accident, SGT Van Riper was
a ground surveyor with the 101st
“Screaming Eagles” Divison of the
regular U.S. Army, and Airborne
qualified.

SGT Van Riper was born Oct. 7, 1953,
in LaCrosse, WI, a son of Kenneth D.
and Carol J. (Mattie) Van Riper. Like his
bride a 1971 graduate of Onalaska (WI)
High School, SGT Van Riper was
married in October 1976. SGT Van Rider
enlisted in the military in December
1975. The couple lived in Clarksville, TN
at the time of the sergeant’s death. The
name of his son, Matthew D. Van Riper,
had been his wish, in conjunction with
his wife.

In addition to his wife and son, SGT Van
Riper left his parents, and two sisters,
Cynthia L. and Rebecca L. Van Riper,
both at the time of Onalaska.

SGT Van Riper was buried, with full
military honors, on Sept. 25, 1978, in
Onalaska Cemetery.
03/06/2001