Dawn Michelle (Slater) Pieper (2014)

PIEPER, SLATER, MCKINZIE, PETERSON, CAUDLE, ABBOTT

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 6/16/2014 at 22:45:44

Johnson Family Funeral Home, Stuart, Iowa

Dawn Michelle Pieper
Born in Winterset, Iowa on August 2, 1956
Departed on June 12, 2014 and resided in Stuart, IA.

Dawn Michelle Pieper, 57 of Stuart passed away, June 12, 2014 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, June 16 at the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Stuart. A celebration of life service will be held 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, June 17 at the Church. A private family burial will take place. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dawn Pieper Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Dawn was born August 2, 1956 in Winterset Iowa, daughter of Darold and Norma Jean (McKinzie) Slater. Her childhood years were spent in Earlham Iowa, growing up with siblings Alan, Gary, Lisa, and Brian. She graduated from Earlham High School where she excelled in track, setting the school record in the high jump at 5 foot. That record was displayed on the wall in the gymnasium for many years. 

Following her graduation in 1974 she met her future husband Kenneth Pieper of Stuart whom she married on June 7, 1975, and to this union 3 children were born, Jeremy, Bradley, and Angela. For several years Dawn worked at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, and for the past 16 years she worked at Hy-Vee in Urbandale. She was a people person and her friendly, efficient persona made her the chosen one when long time customers were ready to be checked out. She knew many of them by name, and cherished all of their friendships.

Dawn loved doing for others, never forgetting a friend or neighbor if she knew they were sick. Recently a 98 year old neighbor had a birthday. She baked and delivered an apple pie to him, his favorite. She made dozens of quilts and tie blankets, a ready gift for any occasion. Another talent she shared with many was her love of photography. Many graduations, weddings, birthday celebrations, and other special occasions were captured through the lens of her camera. She never missed a chance to take a picture of her grandchildren Jaiden, Owen, Emery, Mercedes, and Kadance. The entire walls of her living room are a collage of pictures displaying them at every age, plus many other of her family. Dawn enjoyed being outside tending to her garden and working with her flowers. She also enjoyed many years riding in regbriai before her illness. During one of her hospital stays at Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota she had pictures of her grandchildren nearby to encourage her to continue her valiant fight. She fought a very courageous battle for over 12 years against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, before being called home on Thursday June 12, 2014 with her family at her bedside. 

She was preceded in death by her 4 grandparents, her father Darold, and her brother Gary.

Survivors include her devoted husband, Kenney plus sons Jeremy (Jeannie), Bradley, and Angie (Jeff) Peterson, her mother Norma Jean (McKinzie) Slater, brothers Alan and Brian (Cindy), sister Lisa (Ron) Caudle, brother-in-law Bob Pieper, sister-in-law Mary (Mel) Abbott, her grandchildren Jaiden, Owen, Emery, Mercedes, and Kadance and lastly Mocha and Lucy, her 4 legged friends and a host of other family members and friends all of whom will miss her greatly.