Grace C. Piper

On July 21, 2025, Grace (Thibodeau) Piper passed away peacefully with her family at her side. She was born on December 29, 1930, to Alvin and Leone (Entringer) Thibodeau in Sturgeon Bay, WI. When she finished sixth grade Grace moved to Algoma Wi with her mother and five siblings to live in her grandmother’s house. Although they never had much Grace remembered a happy childhood. After graduating high school at age 17, she moved to Green Bay and took a job with a telephone company while living in a rooming house with some of her co-workers. In October of 1948, she met Ray Piper, the love of her life, at a friend’s wedding. She would tell the story of how he was her assigned escort for the wedding. They had a wonderful time together and she never let him go after that! They were engaged at Christmas1949, married October 14, 1950, and settled in Green Bay. After their four children were born Grace returned to work, first as a registrar at St. Vincent Hospital, where she registered and met many of the injured Green Bay Packer players from the glory years. She worked as a medical secretary for several doctors in the area until she retired in 1984.

Grace and Ray built their retirement dream home on a beautiful golf course in Lakewood, WI, as they were both avid golfers. Grace was lucky enough to have a hole in one! She started the Beach and Social Club in Lakewood which involved golf outings at McCauslin Brook Golf Course as well as fun social gatherings, Grace and Ray were also active volunteers in their churches, St. Bernard in Green Bay and St Mary in Lakewood. While they loved living in Wisconsin, they decided to head south for the winter and were fortunate to spend 23 seasons as winter Texans in Brownsville, TX. They made many good friends there as well as happy memories. When Ray’s health declined, they settled back year-round in Lakewood until Ray passed away in 2015. Grace then moved back to Green Bay for three years and lived in a senior living community which she really enjoyed. She loved playing bingo with her sister, Jo. Unfortunately, health concerns sent her back to Lakewood to be closer to family. Grace met all these life changes head on, never asking “why me?” After a short time at an assisted living, COVID required her to move, and her daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Craig welcomed her into their home for five years. The past three months she resided at Meadow View Assisted Living in Bonduel.

Grace is survived by her son Paul (Hope) Piper, and her daughters Pam (Craig) Pederson, Patti (Harry) Radix, and Laurie (Keith) Lefevre. Grandchildren Adam (Angela) Radix, Stefanie (Dave) Clark, Megan (Ross), Jahnke, Alex (Ariel) Piper; step-grandchildren Cory Pederson, Jade Pederson and Shayna Lefevre, as well as eight great-grandchildren, Grace and Charleigh Radix, Ryan, Matthew, and Natalie Clark, and Amos, Samuel and Micah Jahnke. Last but not least, her adopted Chiweenie dog Max who has been her faithful companion for the last fifteen years.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two infant grandchildren Nicholas and Nicole Piper; parents-in-law; siblings and their spouses, Norb (Donna) Thibodeau, Don (Bobbi) Thibodeau, Dick (Nancy) Thibodeau, Mae (Cozzy) Mura, and Jo (Jerry) Klika.

Family and friends may gather on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, from 10:00am until the funeral services at 11:00am at the funeral home. Entombment in Allouez Chapel Mausoleum in Green Bay, WI.

A special thank you to the staff at Meadow View assisted living and Moments Hospice for their exceptional care of Grace.

In lieu of flower donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association or American Cancer Society.