Wayne Pieper's Obituary
WAYNE O. PIEPER
Wayne Orlo Pieper, 83, of Tacoma, Washington
formerly of the Freeport/Forreston, Illinois
area died Thursday November 19, 2009 at St. Joseph
Hospital in Tacoma.
He was born September 23, 1926 in Stephenson County Illinois,
the son of Melvin and Gladys (Mammoser) Piefer. He graduated
from Shullsburg High School, Shullsburg, Wisconsin in 1944.
After graduating from high school he was in the National Guard
located in Ft. Lewis, Washington
After serving at Fort Lewis he settled in the Tacoma area and continued at his previous work as a floral designer, eventually owning Mt. View Florist, where he became well known for his innovative work. Wayne truly approached floral design as an art form, -Å"food for the body, flowers for the soul-. His passion for his life's work kept him studying and teaching floral design long after his retirement in 1984. Wayne remained a student of floral art and generously shared his creative beliefs with others. Throughout his life he embraced life's changes and challenges by -Å"turning the page and moving on.-
He returned to Illinois for a few years in the 90s to enjoy time with his Mother until her passing in 1999, during that time he worked at flowers shops in Freeport, and volunteered at Anderson Gardens in Rockford.
Until a week before his death wayne was volunteering at St. Clare Hospital, the Lakewood Area Shelter Association, the Historical Society and local gardens. He was a loyal Tacoma Rainiers fan and enjoyed being independent and active. He attended University Place Presbyterian Church where
his service will be held Tuesday, December 1st. 2009 at 3:00
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law Lawrence
Cline and a sister-in-law Charlene Piefer and one great niece.
Wayne is survived by two sisters Iola Cline, of Apple River,
Illinois, Carol (Wayne) Koeller of Forreston, Illinois and one
brother Ronald (Donna) Piefer of Warren, Illinois, ten nieces
and nephews, twenty two great nieces and nephews, and eight
great great nieces and nephews. Ralph and Kathy Schieno, and many wonderful friends.
Please sign online guestbook at www.mountainviewtacoma.com
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