William H. Peppler

Died December 19, 2005

GLEN ARBOR - William H. Peppler, 88, of Glen Arbor, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, at Munson Medical Center. Bill was born in Detroit on July 31, 1917, the youngest son of Henry and Iva Peppler.

Through his youth, he was a Boy Scout and achieved Life Scout status. After high school, he attended college, majoring in accounting and business, ultimately obtaining a position in the accounting department with the tractor division of Ford Motor Company.

His love for Leelanau County and Glen Lake began as a young boy when his family began vacationing at Glen Lake. In those early days, the route taken to get from Detroit to Glen Lake went through Lansing, Grand Rapids and Cadillac, and took three travel days in their model T automobile. His future father-in-law, Cloys Rader, built the cottage on Northwoods Drive on Glen Lake. It was later extensively remodeled and became their personal residence in 1985, but retained the original fieldstone fireplace, beams and knotty pine in one of the rooms.

Bill married Helen Rader, a native of Glen Arbor, on Dec. 27, 1941, at the Lutheran Church of Leland. Their wedding reception was held in what is now the Glen Arbor Bed and Breakfast.

Soon after their marriage, Bill was called to serve our country with the Fifth Calvary Army Division. He served in Iceland, England, France, Germany, Luxemburg and many other European countries during World War II. Peace was declared the very day he was scheduled to ship out to Japan. After his active duty, Bill continued serving his country in the Army Reserve, retiring after 27 years, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served in a number of capacities, including inspector general for Michigan and Indiana.

During the war, Bill and Helen purchased the Glen Lake Country Club on Dunn's Farm Road on the east shore of Glen Lake. They developed and operated Glen View Resort for over 45 years. Bill was one of the first real estate brokers in Leelanau County and owned and operated Peppler Realty in Glen Arbor for 40 years.

Bill was very involved in many activities in the community. He was a member of the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, where he was on the consistory, member and past president of the Traverse Area Association of Realtors, charter member of the Empire Lions Club, honorary member of the Glen Lake Association for his many years service in monitoring Glen Lake's water quality and level.

Bill was one of the founders of the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce, Leelanau Chamber of Commerce, and also the Citizens Council of Sleeping Bear Dunes Area. Bill was also involved as a youth leader at church, the Glen Lake School PTA and the Empire Boy Scouts Troop 9. As a reflection of his love for the water, he was also a member of the Glen Lake Yacht Club.

Bill was a community leader, an honest and ethical businessman, a good and generous neighbor and a loving and caring husband and father.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen Peppler of Glen Arbor; son, John Peppler; daughter, Linda Peppler, both of Glen Arbor, and daughter, Chris Johnson, and her husband, Gary, of Dayton, Ohio.

His parents, and brother, Wayne Peppler, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home today, Dec. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be held Friday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m., at the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church in Glen Lake, with the Rev. Stephen Wing officiating. An interment ceremony will be held in the late spring at the Maple Grove Cemetery near Empire.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, 4902 West MacFarlane Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49636 or to the Glen Lake Association, PO 553, Glen Arbor, MI 49636.

Please share your memories of Bill at his on-line guest book at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.