Colin Patrick Kippenbrock

On Saturday, July 9, 2022, Colin Patrick Kippenbrock, a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, and father of three children, passed away at age 35.

Colin was born on December 2, 1986, in Indianapolis, Indiana to Patricia Halloran and Patrick Kippenbrock.  He grew up playing just about every sport possible; he was inseparable from and caused lots of mischief with his younger brother, Ross.  On any given afternoon they could be found playing roller hockey, biking, hitting baseballs with their dad, or putting on football gear and running into each other.

Colin played hockey for many years as a goalie.  He rowed crew and bowled for Cathedral High School and spent his summers during high school working as a bicycle mechanic and later in restaurants.  He graduated from Cathedral High School in Indianapolis in 2006.

He then went on to Purdue University to study Hospitality and Tourism Management.  It was there that he met his wife, Rachel Lauren Poremski.  They rowed on the crew team and played intramural racquetball together, and both participated in many of the same clubs and activities.  Colin also worked throughout college, both at the university and at a local hotel.  Rachel and Colin were married on October 9, 2010, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette, IN and Colin graduated from Purdue with a B.S. in Hospitality Management in December 2010.

Colin and Rachel moved just outside of Atlanta, GA to start their careers where Colin became a restaurant manager.  The following year welcomed their first son, Caleb, followed just 17 months later by their second son, Colton.  With Colton’s arrival, Colin became a stay-at-home dad, providing for their family in the most loving and nurturing way. On Caleb’s third birthday, Colin and Rachel welcomed their daughter, Adelina to the family.  

In 2017, they moved to Parkland, FL.  While there, Colin enjoyed volunteering at Seton Ridge Preschool where his younger children attended, as well as getting involved with his children’s various extracurricular activities.  Their family then moved to West Lafayette, IN in 2020 to be physically near to extended family; close family connection was always incredibly important to Colin.

In 2021 Colin decided to return to work part-time, and sought a position that would allow him to still be heavily involved in the day-to-day care of his children.  He joined the staff at West Lafayette Elementary School as a lunchroom and recess supervisor.  It was the perfect job for him – he dearly loved his work as well as the children, teachers, and other staff at the school.  “Mr. Colin,” as the children called him, also loved volunteering with the school popcorn sales as well as building tables, benches, and planter boxes for the nature center outdoor classroom.

Colin was generous, caring, and kind in nature from a young age. He was always curious, energetic and in search of his next adventure or project. Colin was seen by everyone as optimistic and positive, and found fun and happiness in everything, especially when he could pull off a great joke or prank. He was very loyal and committed, especially to his family. Colin was genuinely selfless – he would go out of his way to help others and was considerate of others in all he did. 

Colin loved woodworking, building furniture, home renovation projects, cooking and entertaining, drinking bourbon and beer, biking, and going to the gym.  He was a loved face around OrangeTheory Fitness where he worked out Monday through Friday consistently.  Every holiday he insisted on cooking an elaborate meal, by himself, and hosting people in his home on which he had proudly done extensive remodeling projects.

Colin is survived by his wife, Rachel, children, Caleb, Colton, and Adelina, parents, Pat and Patti, parents-in-law Sherie and Joe Poremski, siblings, Emily (fiancé, Harris Mousoulis) and Ross (wife, Katie), sisters-in-law Sara Poremski and Erin Richardson (husband, Terrill) as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and a nephew.

Visitation will be held at St. Mary Cathedral on July 22 from 5-8 pm where the Rosary will be offered at 4:30 pm.  A funeral Mass will be held on July 23 at 10 am, also at St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette, IN.  A private committal service and burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, his family is asking for donations to continue his work of building the nature center outdoor classroom at West Lafayette Elementary School.  Donations to this special cause can be made at the following link and please put Colin’s name in the comments field: https://wlsef.org/howtohelp/donate/