Jacqueline "Jackie" Pieper

Jacqueline "Jackie" Pieper Battle Creek Jacqueline "Jackie" Pieper, 90, died on October 8, 2009 at Battle Creek Health System. She was born in Urbana, Illinois on June 17, 1919 to John and Nelle Pieper. Jackie earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees in speech (1941), industrial design (1943), and a Master's degree in speech correction (1960) from the University of Illinois. She lived and worked in Chicago for 12 years designing furniture, appliances, outdoor motors, and toys. From 1952 to 1962 she was a speech therapist for the Wheaton Public Schools in Illinois. In 1962 she moved to Battle Creek becoming a speech therapist for the Lakeview School District. She retired in 1984. She was active in the Moral Re-Armament movement, attending summer workshops on Mackinac Island. Children were a priority for Jackie throughout her life. She filled many gaps for disadvantaged children by using her own resources to ensure they received proper medical and dental care, new clothing, and presents. Jackie followed her former students throughout the years, providing encouragement and "quiet" assistance. Jackie was a stickler for details and credited her mother for a zero tolerance for errors. "My mother used to say," she told an interviewer in 2004, "There is no excuse for meaning well and doing badly.'" Among the recognitions she received were: Adult Education Master Teacher Award (1970), Lakeview Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Month (1978), Family Altar Chapel Outstanding Community Service Award (1979), and the Battle Creek Enquirer George Award (1984). In retirement Jackie maintained extensive news clippings of her former students and friends and updated the bulletin board at Westlake Elementary School. For many years she served as the librarian at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church and newsletter editor at Heritage Assisted Living, where she lived until earlier this year. Jackie's other interests included music, theatre, and eating out. Jackie is survived by her son Gary (Donna) Nash of Escanaba, Michigan, legions of "Miss Pieper's Boys," members of the "Albatross" club, and by many friends throughout the Battle Creek area who knew and loved a most remarkable woman. Jackie was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. A memorial service to celebrate Jackie's life will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 157 Chapel Hill Drive, Battle Creek with Rev. Dr. James M. Gysel, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Pieper Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Battle Creek Community Foundation. Arrangements were made by the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.