Merle Pepper

Merle Russell Pepper, age 87 of Pearl, IL passed away Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield, IL. He was born March 29, 1938, in Calhoun County, IL to Alfred and Alice Steinberg Pepper. Merle married Yurieva 'Reva' Garner September 18, 1956, in Pittsfield, IL and she preceded him in death May 30, 2018. Merle was a graduate of Calhoun High School in Hardin, IL. In his early years, Merle attended Kampsville Lutheran Church and later Pearl Christian Church where he was a faithful and devout Christian who served as a Sunday school teacher, Elder, and Deacon. Over the years, he worked at the steel mill and at McDonnell Douglas in Alton. Merle later became a deckhand on a barge, worked as a manager at LaCrosse Lumber Company in Pearl, Critic Feed in Pittsfield, drove a school bus, and was a carpenter. Merle was an entrepreneur who raised many species of animals and was a farmer. He was a workaholic, but he and Reva enjoyed square dancing with friends in a local dance club, and he loved to watch westerns. Merle dearly loved his family and especially took great joy in his grandkids. He will be remembered as being too nice and always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Merle is survived by son, Roger (Lee Ann) Pepper of Pearl, IL; daughter, Karla Howland of Pearl, IL; grandchildren, Jamie Pepper, Tracy (Tim) Brown, Kayla (Bradley) Johnson, Merle Jacob (Hoshi) Howland, and Ethan (Brianna) Howland; great grandchildren, Jaicee Pepper, Ellie Mae Pepper, Kylin Pepper, Renezmae Brown, Sophia Johnson, Madilynn Johnson, Myckael Johnson, Killian Johnson, Yurieva Johnson, Isabella Johnson, Victoria Howland, and Katya Howland; sisters, Carol (Hurley) Rulon and Alice (Ray) Clancy; and brother-in-law, Gary Garner. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Alice Pepper; wife of nearly 62 years, Reva Pepper; great grandson, Sean Howland-Lockhart; and sisters, Marlon Baugh, Bernice Baugh, and Lavita Pepper. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 PM, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, IL with visitation held prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service at Green Pond Cemetery in Pearl, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Pearl Christian Church. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Merle Pepper, please visit our floral store.