Brian David Van Pelt's Obituary
Captain Brian Van Pelt
Brian David Van Pelt was born on February 4, 1957 in Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He recently passed away peacefully at his home in Leesville, Louisiana with his wife at his side. Brian put up a brave fight against cancer and will always be remembered by his family and friends as a person who could do what he set out to do. He is preceded in death by his grandparents Bessie and Hugh Van Pelt, and uncle, Bryon Van Pelt. Grandparents Alvin and Helen Thompson and Uncle John Thompson (on his mother side).
He attended Meadow Green grade school in Lowell High School in Whittier, California where he played his trumpet in the marching band. The band received many honors for their patriot band uniforms and performances. Brian was a fantastic drummer who taught himself. Jaqueline loved to hear him accompanying their favorite bands. He was also an excellent swimmer on the swimming team and a cross country runner. He came home one time after a long run and fell asleep at the dinner table; but the finished the run.
Brian joined the Air Force in the fall of 1975, and served for 4 years on active duty, receiving excellent training on different military bases. He was honorably discharged from the military and worked at Tustin Fire Department, Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro Fire Department (California). Brian moved to Fallon Nevada in 1990; worked at Naval Air Station Fallon as a fire fighter.
He married Jacqueline Wilkinson on October 3, 1992. He moved to Crete, Greece in 1996 and worked in the Fire Department at Souda Bay, Crete, where he gained his Captain status with D.O.D. Fire Department. After 5 years in Crete, Greece; Captain Brian Van Pelt & his wife Jacqueline returned to USA where Brian worked at Fort Polk D.O.D. Fire Department until his retirement after 34 years in February of 2014. Leaving behind much loved Fire Fighters his “Boys”.
In the fall of 2014 Brian started a second career with Amentum as an auto mechanic at Fort Polk. A position Brian held for 10 years before becoming sick with cancer.
Captain Brian Van Pelt, literally served his entire life in service to his beloved United States of America from the Air Force in 1975 to Department of Defense from 1979-2014, to being a Humvee Mechanic with Amentum, Fort Polk until 2025.
He is survived by his wife Jacqueline of Leesville; parents David & Janet Van Pelt of Boise, ID and brother, Brent Van Pelt (Lin) of Boise, ID.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 1:00 P.M. at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in Leesville.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the family at https://www.labbymemorialfh.com
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