John Pieper 1876-1961

PIEPER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/15/2019 at 07:34:34

29 June 1961 - The Tipton Conservative

John Pieper, 85, Rochester, became the first Cedar county highway fatality of 1961 when he died at University hospital in Iowa City June 24. Mr. Pieper was injured in a 2-car collision at Rochester June 13. He received severe head and internal injuries.

The fatal accident took place about 5:15 p.m. The Rev. Omar Pettersen, pastor of the Bennett and South Bethel Methodist churches, was driving west on Highway 1. Mr. Pieper was driving east.

According to Cedar county peace officers, Mr. Pieper turned north from the south lane of traffic toward Rochester, directly into the path of the Pettersen car. Both cars, Pieper's 1929 Ford and the Rev. Pettersen's 1960 model, were demolished.

The Rev. Pettersen was cut and bruised and hospitalized in Iowa City for several days.

Mr. Pieper was born in Germany June 12, 1876. He never married. In his later years, he was a caretaker for several cemeteries in southwestern Cedar county and had mowed the grass in two just before he was injured.

Survivors include 2 brothers, Hugo, of Chicago, Ill., and one in Germany.

Funeral services were June 27 at the Rochester Methodist church with burial in the Sharon cemetery in Sugar Creek township.