Joel Lynn Nipper, a loving and faith-filled man, was born on September 29, 1954, in Cleveland, Tennessee, and passed away on April 17, 2023, in the same city that he called home for his entire life. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Joel was the son of the late Billie and J.L. Nipper and the grandson of the late Claude and Myrtle Nipper. He is survived by his loving wife of many years, Patrice Gray Nipper; his daughter, Janessa (Robert Dean) Nipper; his sister, Jeanna Nipper; his grandchildren, Skyler Nipper, Cade Dean, Tristen (Rebecca) Boggess, and Bailey (Colten) Westfelt; his great-grandchildren, Jagger Gray and Stetson Boggess; and his nieces and nephews, Zach Officer, Anthony Hickman, Kelli Hogg, Wally Underwood, Atticus Williams, Jennifer Williams, and Justin Williams. Joel was known as “Papaw” to many special children of whom he loved well.

Joel was a highly respected and successful horse trainer, with a lifetime membership in the Walking Horse Trainers Association and the National Racking Horse Association. His dedication to his craft and his passion for pairing riders and horses together to create winning teams earned him numerous accolades throughout his career. He was inducted into the Racking Horse Breeders Association and the National Racking Horse Association, and he was voted Trainer of the Year twice by his peers in the Racking Horse Breeders Association. Joel's intelligence and skill in training Racking and Walking horses led to many world championships for his clients and their horses.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Joel was a man who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was known for his loving nature and his strong faith, which guided him throughout his life. Joel's interests extended beyond the world of horse training, as he also enjoyed sharing his love for horses with everyone he met. Whether it was teaching a young rider the basics of horsemanship or helping a seasoned competitor refine their skills, Joel's passion for his work was evident in everything he did.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, April 21, 2023, at 3:00 pm at Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland. The family will be receiving friends from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm prior to the service.