John Carl Ribbens Jr was born the 3rd son of John Ribbens Sr and Gertrude Raetz on January 8, 1953. He was brought up in Rock Valley Iowa, Battle Creek Michigan, Sioux Falls South Dakota, Indianapolis Indiana, and Lafayette Indiana. He served in the Navy between 1971 and 1973 and was stationed at Alameda Naval Base in California.

He married Debbie Neely in 1976 in Bellflower CA. The marriage lasted a couple years, producing a daughter, Carrie, who died at childbirth in 1977. By 1978, John had moved to Grand Rapids and became an Operating Room Technician working with a Neurosurgery team at Blodgett Hospital. Amongst the perks he enjoyed was the doctor's sailboat on Reeds Lake.

On August 5th, 1984 he was badly injured in a motorcycle accident which left him with closed head injuries, blindness, and a badly fractured right arm. Post injury, he spent time at Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids and a rehab facility in Troy, New York before being placed in a newly formed Neuro Rehab Center with Hope Networks in GR. He was fortunate to have some caregivers who have been with him for almost 30 years and who remember fondly (or sometimes not!) a pretty strong willed, independent (some might say stubborn) guy who possessed a wicked open mouthed laugh and a good sense of humor to his last day. He died peacefully on a beautiful spring morning, April 30th, 2024. He was 71 years old.

John was preceded in death by his father, John Sr, brothers Bruce, Joel, and Mike, and brother in law Brad Gilman. He is survived by his mother Trudie, his sister Mary Gilman of Boise ID, brother Bryan Ribbens & partner Randy Currey, and nieces Nichole & Stephanie. A service of celebration of his life will take place at Woodlawn CRC Ministry Center, 3190 Burton SE, Grand Rapids beginning with family & friends visiting at 10:30 AM on Tuesday May 7. The service will start at 11 AM.