Funeral Services for 88-year old Jeannie Pieper of Hay Springs, NE, are Monday, April 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM at St Columbkille Catholic Church in Hay Springs.
Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in Scottsbluff, NE, at 2:30 PM.
The family requests memorials in Jeannie’s memory be given to St Columbkille’s Catholic Church, Pioneer Manor Nursing Home, or memorials of one’s choice to benefit children and/or education. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Drabbels Mortuary, PO Box 443, Hay Springs, NE 69347.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Wilhelmina Jean (Straetker) Pieper was born on July 17, 1933 to Hubert and Agnes Straetker in Scottsbluff and passed away on April 7, 2022, at Chadron Community Hospital in Chadron, NE.
Jeannie attended kindergarten through 6th grade in Scottsbluff, then in 7th grade was driven her sister, Rita, by their parents or took the train each week to Alliance, NE, to attend St Agnes Academy.
Jeannie graduated from St. Agnes in 1951. After graduation, she attended St Mary’s College in Xavier, KS, and later continued her education by completing classes through Western Nebraska Community College.
On February 14, 1953, Jeannie married Bernard (Bud) Pieper at St Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff. Bud and Jeannie lived close to Bud’s parents, Henry and Agnes Pieper, on a farm east of Scottsbluff.
There they welcomed two more children Mark and then Marie, before buying a farm in 1957 and moving to Mirage Flats south of Hay Springs. Three more children – Matthew, Marlene, and Michael – were born during the time they lived on Mirage Flats.
Bud and Jeannie eventually moved with their children to Alliance, where the kids attended school at St Agnes Academy as Jeannie had and Bud commuted back and forth to the farm. In 1971, the family returned to the farm where they lived until Bud and Jeannie retired.
After spending their years in the Hay Springs, Alliance, and Scottsbluff areas, Jeannie lived with Bud in Pioneer Manor Nursing Home until the time of her death.
Jeannie enjoyed visiting friends, playing cards, knitting, crocheting and practicing her faith; however, her family was the most important thing in her life.
She loved spending time with her large family. Every individual in Jeannie’s family had a special place in her heart and she made it known to them. She was engaged in their lives and kept close contact with all of them.
Jeannie was preceded in death by her father Hubert, mother Agnes, sister Rita Lanz and husband Kenneth, grandson Travis Pieper, mother in-law and father in-law Henry and Agnes Pieper, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Jo and Leland Buehler, Albert Hoelsken, Rita and Emmanuel Zitterkopff, and Ed Strueby, and numerous friends and extended family.
Jeannie is survived by her husband Bernard (Bud) Pieper of Hay Springs, children Mark Pieper (Debra) of Hay Springs, Marie Sullivan (Kevin) of Elkhorn, NE, Matthew Pieper (Joleen) of Hay Springs, Marlene Heiting (Brett) of Hay Springs, and Michael Pieper of Chicago, IL, grandchildren Amy Barton (Kenneth), Tate Pieper, Megan Edwards (Brian), Marcus Gering, Mia Hogins (Elijah), Macs Gering (Jessica), Brant Pieper (Lyndsey), Blake Pieper (Tasha), Tovah Connealy (Dan), Greg Heiting (Megan), Corey Heiting (Barb), and Tony Heiting (Kyli), 35 great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Agnes Hoelsken and JoAnn Strueby, and numerous nieces, nephews and their families.
Jeannie loved well and is well-loved, and she will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Chamberlain Drabbels Mortuary of Hay Springs is in charge of arrangements for Jeannie Pieper
My deepest sympathy to the family.