Patrick Charles Pieper

Patrick Charles Pieper died on October 20, 2024.

On Wednesday, August 13th, 1958 around 2 a.m. a car, driven by Charles Francis Pieper, was driving the back roads of Lee county Iowa at an extreme high rate of speed. Even then, Mary Elizabeth (Weber) Pieper barely made it to Sacred Heart hospital in Fort Madison in time to avoid delivering Patrick in the family's Chevy sedan.

I joined my 2 older sisters, Sally (Mike) Criswell and Teri (Mark) Lancaster on the family farm near Hillsboro, Iowa where in short order I was joined by Al (Dawn) Pieper, Jane (Eric) Fritz, Mel (Alayne) Pieper, and Luke Pieper; having learned their lesson, Charles and Mary left home earlier for each of the following children.

When I was 7 years old my parents must have determined that the 200 acre family farm wasn't going to support a family of 10, so they packed up and moved the brood to Ottumwa, Iowa where Charles was employed by a plumbing supply company and Mary was a nurse. Diane Addis was born the following year.

I am survived by the love of my life, Ann Marie (Davidsaver) Pieper, who I met In the fall of 1976 after wrestling her to the ground as she was trying to lipstick my car. On June 17th, 1978 we married and had 3 boys, Josh Pieper (Zia Sobhani), Eric Pieper (Toni), and Chris Pieper. Grandchildren include Cyrus and Samira Pieper (Josh and Zia), and Emma, Lilah, Alexa, and Clara Pieper (Eric and Toni). I loved spending time with my children, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren.

I attended Ottumwa High School, Indian Hills Community College and Hannibal-LaGrange College. I then spent 40+ years mostly working for soul-sucking corporate overlords, a few great bosses, and a lot of great friends while moving between Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa again, Kansas, and then back to Missouri.

In June of 2019 the last of the soul-sucking overlords terminated my employment, so at age 60 Ann and I, along with our beloved 15 year old Bassador Heeler Krikkit, hit the road full-time in a Class A motorhome with 3 goals: spend at least 1 night in each of the 48 states, visit all National Parks in those states, and spend summers up north and winters down south. Krikkit traveled with us for 2 years, before succumbing to old age in Crystal City, CA.

Five years, 65,000 miles, and gigabytes of pictures later we completed our goals. In April of 2024 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer. I have no regrets as we did more in my last 5 years than most retired people do in 20.

I was preceded in death by my father (1995), stepfather Oscar Axthelm (2021), and nephew Travis Fritz (2011).

I hate funerals so we won't be having one. Please bring memories to share and join my family for a Celebration of Life on Sat., Nov. 30 from 3-6 p.m. at the Bridge View Center, 102 Church St., Ottumwa, IA 52501. If you have any digital pictures they may be brought to be displayed. Casual dress with Hawaiian attire welcomed.

No flowers or memorials please, just tip those servers less fortunate than you and occasionally pay it forward by anonymously paying for a young family or elderly couple's meal.