June V. Pieper 1914-2002

PIEPER, HINTZ, HOBBS, COLE

Posted By: Lori Clark (email)
Date: 10/9/2002 at 15:36:09

June V. Pieper, age 88 of 7 Melrose Place, Iowa City, died at her home following a lengthy illness Sunday, May 5, 2002 with the same dignity and grace that she lived her life.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 10, 2002 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Robert Gebel officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Another service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2002 at the Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where visitation will be from 12 noon till services on Saturday. Burial will be at the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City are caring for June’s family and her services.

June V. Hobbs Cole-Pieper was born January 15, 1914, into a family of pioneers/settlers in the northwest town of Alta, Iowa. She was educated in the Alta Consolidated Schools and was strongly supported in the learning process by her parents. She excelled in math and enjoyed participating in plays and drama activities which became the backbone of her life, she graduated in 1931.

June’s sense of adventure took her out of Alta to start her early business career in Storm Lake. She met and married Harold Cole. They moved to Sioux City. On December 7, 1945 to Oakdale, near Iowa City where Harold began treatment for tuberculoses. June worked in medical records, later transferring to the University Of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City after Harold responded to a research drug that June had encouraged doctors to give to Harold in spite of the risk associated with it. June and Harold enjoyed the university climate of Iowa City making many friends, particularily among other avid Hawkeye fans and fellow members in the newly formed Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Harold died in 1964. June reached into her family legacy and became involved in many women’s business and leadership organizations of primary interest was her membership in “Old Capital” chapter of the American Business Women’s association, where she held several offices, including historian and two terms as president. The highlight of this experience for June was when she was named “Woman of the Year”. June was also active in the Iowa City Business Women’s Club, continuing to enjoy the friendships made, joining them for regular lunches, even up to the last month of her life.

The University of Iowa was June’s “career home”. She worked thirty-seven and a half years as a secretary and administrative assistant in the departments of Pathology and Geology and was secretary to the Principal of the University Schools where teachers were trained. The school was her “favorite” position where she enjoyed the young students and teachers. She cherished and maintained lifelong friendships from this experience. Many of her “kids students” carried their friendship well into adulthood.

A woman of dignity and grace,Strong family relationships and friendships are the testimony to June’s defined character. She was a very devoted sister to all her brothers and sisters; was the premier aunt to all her nieces and nephews, always including her grand nieces and nephews; even treating children of her friends as family. A great communicator driven by very kind and loving heart, she acknowledged birthdays and holiday with great dedication. Her gifts supported learning, and encouraged and developed great faith in the Almighty, to and in moving in faith to become the best person one could be.

On May 4, 1979, she married Carl Pieper, whose deceased wife was her life-long best friend. The foursome were close friends for years. June and Carl were active members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and dedicated to the Iowa City Senior Citizen Center. True to their style they initiated many activities in the new center. June again found a place to express her thoughtfulness, consideration for others; and as a Senior Citizen found many avenues for her cute sense of humor. Always a leader she served the senior community on the Council of Elders-three terms was Chairwomen of the council, served on the Senior Center Commission, initiated and coordinated the Speaker’s Bureau. She also carried on a long standing family tradition of playing cribbage-taught others, and started the card club. She was Host and Guide Coordinator, was clerk in the Elder Craft shop, and chaired numerous committees for “Old American Day”, the Holiday Bazaar, helped with almost every special project throughout 21 years. Again, her favorite project was working with children on the “Partner in Reading Program” for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

June’s loves of her life ranged from a deep appreciation of nature, studying flowers, birds, loved to dance, and fine dinners out and attending the theatre.

June peacefully and gracefully went to sleep in the early hours Sunday, May 5, 2002. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, two brothers, two sisters.

Her family includes, a sister, Adeline R. Otto of Alta, IA; step-daughters and their husbands, Sandra and Russell Irvin of Iowa City and Judy and Ed Church of Blairsburg, IA; two step-grandchildren, she will be missed by 20 nieces and nephews, 13 grand nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends living all across the great nation of which she was proud.