Edward (Ed) Chester Pieper, Jr., 84, died Thursday, December 10, 2020, at the Washington County Nursing Home in Akron, Colorado, gaining his wings on his daughter, Rita's birthday.
Ed was born on October 17, 1936 in Akron to Chester and Irene (Hottinger) Pieper. He lived his entire life near and in Akron, except for his time in the United States Navy and a short convalescence at his daughter, Diane's home in Sterling, Colorado.
Ed had one older sister, Mary Rose; five younger brothers, Louis, Leo, Alex, John, and Jim; and one younger sister, Elizabeth. They were raised on the family farm, six miles south east of Akron, developing good work ethic and devout Catholic faith. Ed attended the Sunny Slope country school, sometimes being lucky enough to catch a ride from the teacher in her wagon. He spoke of taking butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch nearly every day. He graduated from Akron High School and from butter and jelly sandwiches in 1954, vowing not to return to either.
Following high school, Ed enlisted in the US Navy, serving as a Machinist's Mate, during peace time. He served on the aircraft carrier, USS Bon Homme Richard, fostering a lifelong fascination with aircraft. He completed training in compressed gases, which would later serve him well in a trade to supplement his farming. He also planned for his future marriage to a yet undiscovered bride, bringing back china and beautiful silk tablecloths and napkins from Japan. Ed was honorably discharged on December 17, 1958. Ed enjoyed attending a couple of ship reunions in his retirement years, as much as he enjoyed pointing out every jet that took off and landed at DIA, during car trips to Denver.
After his return home, Ed, with the help of his parents, established his farm, livestock and milking operation two miles northeast of his childhood home. Through a mutual friend, Ed met Ruth Ann Melchior in the Fall of 1962, and they were married on January 19, 1963, in Englewood, Colorado. Ruth had much to learn about life outside of the city, and one memorable lesson was that hershey isn't always chocolate. Their marriage was quickly blessed with children, Edmond William, in January of 1964 and Rita Marie, in December of that same year. Diane Renee came along in September of 1967. Around the time Diane was born, Ed, looking for relief from his allergies, used a truck cab to cover the seat and control area of his combine. He soon learned that the glass windows caused the cab to get very hot during the July harvest. With that, he turned to his acquired Navy skills and designed and installed an air conditioning system for the cab. Word of his creation spread, and Ed Pieper Refrigeration was born, as the demand for such systems grew. Ed later added home and commercial refrigeration, heating and air conditioning to his business.
Harvest became an extremely busy time, with urgency to bring the crops in and to keep his customers cool during their harvests. Luckily, Eddie developed an interest in farming, Diane developed an interest in doing the refrigeration bookkeeping, with Rita helping with both. Ed was a working man, and did not find enjoyment in hobbies. Once in a while, he would return home in time to suggest a game of kickball in the driveway. This "daddy" time was a treat to the kids. In order to truly relax, the family had to get Ed away from his work. Vacations by car to California, south Texas, and the Washington DC area were taken when the kids were young, and the family flew to Hawaii and enjoyed a cruise around the islands for a vacation during Eddie's and Rita's senior year of high school. Ed and Ruth continued travelling after the kids left home and spent several extended snowbird stays in Texas and Arizona.
Ed came home from a 30-something year class reunion, talking of many of his classmates who had grandchildren and feeling left out. By the next year's alumni, he had pictures of his own to share. Ed and Ruth had three grandsons, and one of Grandpa Ed's favorite activities when they were young, was letting them eat M&M's, one by one, off of the shelf of the refrigerator … the same refrigerator that his children would get in trouble for leaving open too long while they were looking for something good to eat.
In October of 2001, while attending the 100th birthday party for Ed's aunt Ellen in Iowa, Ruth became very ill. They left Iowa in the middle of the night to try to get Ruth to a hospital close to home, but had to stop in Kearney, Nebraska, when it was obvious her condition was dire. Ed finished the journey home by himself, having lost Ruth after 38 years together.
After a couple of years alone, Ed met Frances Beatrice (Duman) Faulhaber, reportedly when she tackled him at a picnic they were both attending in Oregon. After a long-distance courtship, Ed and Fran were married on December 27, 2004, in Molalla, Oregon. Ed and Fran spent several years splitting their time between Oregon, Colorado and Arizona. Eventually, Fran sold her property in Molalla and they made Akron their home and spent winter months in Yuma, Arizona. One of Fran's sisters, Pat, and her husband wintered nearby and the couples would meet up on occasion. Ed realized when the drive, pulling their camper to Arizona became too much for him, and they remained home year-around.
Ed and Fran worked through common age-related health conditions and kept each other going with prayers, hand holding and eyes that sparkled for each other. Following Ed's serious illness in 2018, they moved first to Diane's home in Sterling, with full-time caregivers, and later into the nursing home in Akron. They were blessed with many kind and caring aides, for whom their families will be forever grateful.
In all stages of Ed's life, he remained faithful to his church and served in several official capacities, as well as just stepping in and taking care of maintenance that he thought was overlooked. For many years, Ed and Ruth made a trip to the mountains to cut Christmas trees for themselves and for St. Joseph's parish. Though the years, all of his children and grandchildren, and several church youth group leaders and members went along on the trip. Ed is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; parents, Chet and Irene; sister, Rita Marie (at birth); sister, Mary Rose; and sister-in-law, Betty (Terry) Pieper.
Surviving him are his wife, Fran; son, Eddie; daughter, Rita Lovegreen (Glenn); daughter, Diane Van Der Wege (Rex); grandsons, Dillon Davisson (Courtney), Tim Dallegge (Tanya) and Logan Davisson (Danielle); great-grandson, Conor Davisson; brothers, Louis, Leo (Veda), Alex (Linda), John (Joan) and Jim (Marcia); sister, Elizabeth Krueger (Joseph); Fran's children, Kathy, Gary, Sharon, Carol, JoAnn, Donna, Gregg and Glenn, their spouses, children, and grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and many loved ones.
Recitation of the Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial were held Monday, December 14, 2020, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Akron, with Fr. Marek Ciesla officiating. Interment followed at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dillon Davisson, Tim Dallegge, Logan Davisson, Matthew Pieper, Rex Pieper, Ross Davisson and Glenn Faulhaber. Honorary Pallbearers were Ed's five brothers and his brother-in-law.
Published in Akron News-Reporter on Dec. 17, 2020.