
At the age of 75, Kurt Conrad Peppel passed away on May 11, 2026 in Savannah, Georgia. Kurt was born September 1, 1950 to Elsie Delores (Smothers) Peppel and Henry Robert Peppel I at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. With family roots in Michigan and LaPorte County, Indiana, he was a 1968 graduate of St. Mary’s High School.
Kurt began a life and career marked by dedication, both to his country and his community beginning with enlisting in the US Army in 1969 and serving 3 tours totaling 22 months in Vietnam as an Intel Coordinator with the 525th Military Intelligence Group and duty with the 101st Airborne Division. Following his enlistment and working initially at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, he fostered a further interest in law enforcement. While continuing his service in the U.S. Army Reserves, Kurt obtained a B.S. Degree in Criminology and Political Science from Indiana State University. Through Army ROTC and the Green-to-Gold Program, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in 1976 with an initial assignment to the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
He furthered distinguished his military service with extensive assignments in recruiting in U.S. Army Recruiting Command with both the Indianapolis District Recruiting Command; and later, as an Army-wide specialized recruiter for US Army Special Forces. He completed his active duty stationed with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg and later retiring from the US Army Reserves in the 11th Special Forces Group, Fort Meade, Maryland in 1993. He retired at the rank of Major as a Special Forces Officer. Embodying the essence of a retired veteran patriot, while residing in Maryland, he eventually returned to a career in law enforcement as a police officer where he retired from the Fairfax County Police in Virginia in 2017.
Kurt’s many interests included enjoying the passions of life with his wife, Kitty (Clevinger) Peppel formerly of Pikeville, Kentucky; the company of four grandchildren; pursuing the finer art of a wine enthusiast (also enjoying a favorite Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned), traveling, golfing, and cooking. He was an active member of the VFW where he also served as a post commander. Civic affiliations also included FOP, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and American Legion. He always loved planning and participating in annual family reunions. Kurt relished this civic engagement with the same dedication he espoused throughout his military career.
He was predeceased by a son (Justin), both parents and 3 brothers; Douglas Alan, Henry Robert, and Ronald Eugene.
Kurt’s loving wife of more than 32 years now survives him residing in the Savannah, Georgia area. He is also survived by a son, Shaun; four grandchildren (Keyarah, Triniti, Noah, and Kai); a brother (Duane), and a sister (Cynthia Chism).
Further funeral arrangements are pending and will be finalized with Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at a date to be determined in 2027 and to be announced.
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