John R. “Jack” Piper, 82, of Eldora, passed away on Sunday June 28
th
, 2009 at the Valley View Nursing and
Rehab
Center
. A memorial service will be held on Thursday July 2
nd
11:00 a.m. at the
United
Methodist
Church
in Eldora with Pastor
Richard Boatman
officiating. A visitation is planned for Wednesday July 1
st
, 2009 from 6 to 8 pm at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora. Interment is private.
Jack was born on January 15, 1927, the son of Carl J. and Katharine (Mohr) Piper. He grew up and was educated in the Eldora school system, graduating in 1945 from
Eldora
High School
. He was drafted into the military on May 30, 1945 during World War II and served 18 months, where he was honorably discharged on November 1, 1946. He attended college at
Cornell
College
in
Mt.
Vernon
for 1 year. Jack and Ruth Willig were married on September 3, 1950 at the
St. Paul
Lutheran
Church
in Eldora. Born into this union were 3 children. He worked for the Crosley Farm Store for 10 years and later worked as a mail carrier for the Eldora Post Office for 27 years, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the
United
Methodist
Church
where he was a
Lay leader, usher and Sunday school teacher for 35 years. Jack was a member of the Kiwanis Club, member of the Pine Lake Wildlife Club and a member of the Friends of Pine Lake. He was a
Boy Scout leader, committee member and Explorer Post Leader, a leader of the Hy.Y organization and did many volunteering opportunities within the community. He loved to go canoeing, fishing and was an excellent woodcarver.
He is survived by his wife Ruth (Willig) Piper of Eldora; children Paul (Linda) Piper of Council Bluffs, IA, Karla Piper (Loren Southwick) of Riverside, IA, and Dee (Richard) Hellmich of Algona, IA; grandchildren Lee & Brett Southwick of Riverside, IA, Brian (Amy) Hellmich of Crestview, FL & Erica Hellmich of Miami, FL; 2 step-grandchildren Lisa (Dean) BeVirt of Council Bluffs, IA & John (Adrianna) Hudson of Underwood, IA; great-grandchildren Kylie Hellmich of Crestview, FL, Andrea (Scott) Showers of Council Bluffs, IA and Alyssa Hudson of
Underwood, IA; great-great granddaughter Lauren Showers; brothers David (Sandra) Piper of Strausburg, VA and Steve (Janice) Piper of Eldora; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be made in his name to the Cedar Valley Hospice, the Eldora School System or to the United Methodist Church of Eldora.
