Donald Roger Pieper

Donald Roger Pieper A celebration of the full and happy life of former Times Press Recorder columnist Donald Roger Pieper of Shell Beach, California, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010, at the Avila Beach Community Center in Avila Beach, California.  He died at home on December 20, 2009, at the age of 78, surrounded by loving family.  Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Janet Pieper; son David Pieper and spouse Donald Rodriguez of San Francisco, California; son James Pieper and spouse Catherine and their children Joseph, James, Michael and Maureen of Omaha, Nebraska; son Steven Pieper and spouse Carol of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Don successfully battled cancer for more than three years and continued frequent trips with his wife and family until late November.  His life was filled with humor tempered with kindness, intellectual curiosity, and a love of politics, history, and travel.  While he lived for many years in California, he always considered himself a Nebraskan. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Don was a graduate of Omaha North High School.  While a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he was editor of the Daily Nebraskan and spent summers writing for the Lincoln Star.  He began his professional career in journalism as a reporter for the Norfolk Daily News and later worked for United Press International as reporter and bureau manager in Omaha and then as a regional executive in Indiana.  He returned to Nebraska in 1967 to join the Omaha World-Herald as political reporter and columnist based in Lincoln.  He also taught journalism classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and wrote articles for the Nebraska Farmer, Midlands Business Journal, and the Nebraska Press Association. Don became columnist and assistant managing editor of the Lincoln Journal before moving to California in 1984, where his wife, a former Cabinet member in the administration of Nebraska Governor Charles Thone, worked for California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.  He wrote a popular column for the San Luis Obispo Telegram Tribune, and in later years edited the Avila Pilot, wrote a column for the Five Cities Times Press Recorder, and was a contributing editor for the Lincoln Forum Bulletin.  Don also wrote articles for the Finest Hour and the Chartwell Bulletin, Churchill publications.  He participated in the Order of Minor Historians of San Luis Obispo County and traveled to many historical sites as a member of the Churchill Centre and the Lincoln Forum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:  Jacqualyn Palchak Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 1614, Pismo Beach, California 93448, or Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, 277 South Street, Suite R, San Luis Obispo, California 93401.