Paul Henry Pieper (78) of Effingham

Paul Henry Pieper, 78, of Effingham, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 2, 2017, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 7 at the Effingham Assembly Church in Effingham, with Pastor Don Wallace and Pastor Dallas Bear officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday prior to the services at the church. Entombment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Effingham. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Paul to Effingham Assembly Church or HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois.

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Paul was born on August 3, 1938, in rural Stewardson, Illinois, the son of Edwin and Bernadine (Arnold) Pieper. Paul married Dee Snodderly on September 27, 1959, in Strasburg, and she survives. Paul grew up enjoying the outdoors and helping his dad with the family farm. He then began his truck driving career, working for Hygrade Food Products, Lovelace Trucking, and Yellow Freight, retiring in 1995. Upon retirement, he kept busy with his large garden and enjoyed giving away his produce to friends, neighbors, and family. He also pursued his passion to help others by serving as handyman and maintenance man at Effingham Assembly, the church home that was very dear to him. Paul’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren. The devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather will be greatly missed by them, but their comfort will come from knowing he is with his Heavenly Father.

Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dee of Effingham; daughter, Paula (Glen) Ballinger of Strasburg, and Kim (Charlie) Muller of Irving, Texas; 3 grandchildren, Kara (Chad) Dalton of Imperial, Missouri, Jake Muller and Haley Muller both of Irving, Texas; 2 step-great-grandchildren, Kevin Dalton and Paige Dalton, of Imperial, Missouri; brother, Kenneth Pieper, of Strasburg, sister, Mary Beemer, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and sister Linda Gullion, of Mattoon.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Vera Budde, and brother, Edwin Pieper Jr.