Joan M Klippel

Joan M. Klippel passed away peacefully on Hilton Head Island, Monday, September 22nd. She was 87.

Joan was born on June 18th,1938 in the Bronx, New York to her parents Sam and Jennie McCullough. She married Richard Klippel in 1965 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage until his death in 2005. Joan was a devoted mother to her son Robert and daughter Jennifer as well as a proud grandmother to Jack, Collin, Emily and Ricky.

Joan was an avid boater as was her husband, Richard. They enjoyed many sailing adventures on Long Island Sound with their kids.While living in the Bronx, New York, Joan was a New York City undercover police officer during the 1960’s and 70’s, at a time when there weren’t many female police officers. Her work there included a broad range of assignments from security details for President John F. Kennedy when he was in town to undercover operations investigating organized crime to meeting Joe Dimaggio. She loved her job and the excitement that surrounded it.

After retiring from the police department, she and her husband and kids moved to Hilton Head in 1979 where she worked as a real estate agent. In the late 1980’s she and her family had the opportunity to turn their love of boating into a business. She started a charter boat business, Drifter Excursions, that still operates to this day employing her children, Jennifer and Robert and her grandson Jack as captains and grandson Ricky as mate. Her fearlessness in starting this business has provided her children with a lifelong career as well as grandchildren with opportunities for their future.

Joan was happiest while traveling, especially when family and friends were with her.

Her ashes will be scattered at sea at a date to be announced. (Don’t worry Dad, we will check the weather conditions and be sure to check the fuel).