U.P. Veteran Of The Year Tracey Ann Tippett, left, is shown with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel at the U.P. State Fair on Thursday. (Jessica Koth Daily Press)

MARQUETTE — A Marquette County woman was honored Thursday at the Upper Peninsula State Fair as U.P. Veteran Of The Year.

Tracey Ann Tippett, of Champion, was selected after being nominated by the Marine Corps League, Lake Superior Detachment 764.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer bestowed the honor on Tippett during a ceremony at the fair. Whitmer was at the fair to tour the grounds and attend the annual Governor’s Luncheon.

Tippett has a long history of service to veterans and her community.

She was in the U.S. Marine Corps, attached to unit Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS)-371, Yuma, Arizona as a heavy equipment mechanic.

Tippett is a life member of the Marine Corps League, Military Order of Devil Dogs, and the Marquette County Veterans Alliance Committee. She is also a member of American Legion Post 44, Marquette, and a member of the Marquette County Veterans Affair Committee.

She currently serves as the U.P. Zone Vice Commandant, Department of Michigan, Department Adjutant, Marine Corps League, and acts as the Department of Michigan’s Webmaster for the Marine Corps League. In addition, she has been the Marine Corps Leagues Coordinator for Toys for Tots, Lake Superior Detachment 764 since 2016. She is also the Pound Dog Robber (finance officer) for the Northern Wolves Pound 174, secretary, Marquette County Veterans Alliance and is a board trustee for the Marquette County Veterans Alliance.

Tippett’s veteran awards throughout the years have been numerous. Included among her recent awards are the 2022 Central Division Marine of the Year, 2021 Marquette County Veteran of the Year, 2021 State of Michigan Veteran of the Year, 2020 Michigan Pack “Pack Dog of the Year” and 2019 Northern Wolves Pound 174 “Pound Dog of the Year.” (The last two are Devil Dog awards, an honor society of the Marine Corps League.)

She was also awarded the 2022 U.P. Michigan Credit Union League Distinguished Service Award.

Her activities with the veteran organizations which she serves are numerous. She is an activities volunteer at the Jacobetti Veterans Home. She volunteers as an Honor Flight fundraiser, Flag Day Honor Guard, Funeral Honor Guard, Toys for Tots coordinator, Veteran Day Services and Marine Corps Birthday Celebration.

Tippett annually volunteers for the Marquette and Ishpeming Christmas Parade and Negaunee Pioneer Days. A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, she served in the past as financial secretary and remains active in the church’s women’s group and monthly soup luncheon program.

She is a 28-year employee of TruNorth Federal Credit Union, currently as operations department manager.

Tippett has been married to her husband, Bruce, for 12 years. She has a daughter, Riley, and a son-in-law, John Lawson.