Michael Pepin

PEPIN, Michael Roger

“Colonel Michael” went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, April 17, 2026.  Born in Norwich, CT, in 1950 to the late J. Roger and Jeanne Pepin, Michael was the eldest of six children. 

He graduated from trade school in 1968 and joined the Air Force in 1970, a career which took him all over the world, serving his country while earning degrees in electrical engineering, math, and aeronautical engineering.  He met his wife in California in 1972 where both of his children were later born.  Altogether, he moved 13 times while serving at 8 bases in Los Angeles, CA, Arlington, VA, Chelmsford, MA, San Antonio, TX, Tipp City and Dayton, OH, Springfield and Annandale, VA, Springfield, OH, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach, FL, with brief assignments in Guam, Israel, Iceland, and Europe, ultimately returning to Springfield, OH, where he retired in 2000. 

During his active-duty years, he was involved in and/or directed many now-famous projects including the Stealth bomber, AWACS radar dish, ALCM and AMRAAM missiles, F-15, Global Hawk, and B-52 aircraft.  He was recalled to duty shortly after his retirement due to conflicts in the Middle East but maintained his Springfield residence.  Upon his second and final retirement, he continued to fulfill his patriotic duty through civilian contracts at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and later, went on to become a civil servant serving on the Board of Elections and as Chairman of the Clark County Republican Central Committee.

In addition to his distinguished military and political careers, Michael was also a self-taught photographer, craftsman, handyman, collector, adventurer, and volunteer.  He served faithfully at his home church, Wings of Love, and earned leadership positions in multiple organizations including the PTA, Eagles, VFW, Amvets, Pregnancy Resource Center (formerly CPC), Ohio Camera Collectors Club, and Camp American.  

He leaves a legacy of loving God and family and helping others but will also be remembered for his love of collecting (boxes and packing material, trains and railroad paraphernalia, cameras and film, clocks, books, movies, stamps, coins, calendars, airplanes, hardware and tools, logic and tavern puzzles, frogs, penguins, moose, eagles, and more) and for his love of creating.  Many great memories were forged with him while building and fixing things in his workshop or appreciating the beauty of nature, architecture, trains, and more through his camera lenses.

He will be remembered by his grandchildren for times spent with them at the Air Force museum, the donut shop, and at The Nutcracker each year as well as his love for participating in the annual garage sale, his impressive packing skills, and his ability to use every inch of a truck bed.

A man of few words, his actions spoke volumes!  Through the generous donation of his time, treasure, and talents, he saw the unseen, putting roofs over their heads, saving their businesses, and selflessly meeting their financial and material needs.

Michael is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ricki (Seifert) Pepin, his children, Jenna Pepin and David and Gretchen (Bravard) Pepin, his grandchildren, Sydney and Sadie Pepin and Ruby and Sammy Meza, his siblings, Christine and Hank Kaiser, Steven and Maryann Pepin, Claire Sturtevant, and Joann and Thomas Edgar in addition to many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. 

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Wings of Love Church, 1331 E. High Street, Springfield, OH.  Visitation will begin at 10:00am followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00am.  We invite you to come prepared to share your favorite memories of Michael, and in lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation in his name to one of his favorite charities: Pregnancy Resource Center (Clark County), Toys for Tots, or the Special Olympics.

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