After a long battle with complications from West Nile virus, a Brookhaven firefighter succumbed to his illness Monday.

Justin Rippy, 38, was a captain at Brookhaven Fire Department where he served since 2002, as well as at Hog Chain Volunteer Fire Department. He was promoted to captain at BFD in 2010.

BFD Chief Tony Weeks said Rippy started working the same shift as him when he first started and the two shared many good memories working together. Weeks said Rippy had the attitude of a true firefighter

and definitely loved his job.

“He always had a ‘firefighter’ attitude,” Weeks said. “He wanted to be a firefighter. He wasn’t just here for a check; he was here for the job. And he did a really good job while he was here.”

Weeks said Rippy was a hard-working guy with a good work ethic that did not go unnoticed. He said the illness took down a strong, good man who will be dearly missed.

“We’re going to miss him. It was hard to see [him ill] knowing how he was, as one of these active people and that kind of took him down,” Weeks said. “But he’s in a better place now, he’s not suffering anymore.”

Rippy and his wife Kim have three young children.

Rippy contracted West Nile virus in October 2012, and had been battling brain illness and complications associated with meningitis and encephalitis ever since. Several fundraisers took place to help the family with medical expenses.

Organizers for a series of 2013 fundraisers for the family said then that Rippy was in and out of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson several times and had been unable to work.

Mississippi Department of Health officials said the agency has no record of a West Nile death this year. Patients who die of complications of the virus years later are not always counted in the official death total.

The MSDH reported 12 cases of the virus in 2012 in Lincoln County, one case of the virus in 2013, zero in 2014 and zero cases so far this year.

Funeral arrangements for Rippy were incomplete at press time. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.