In Memory of
Donald O. Pieper

Don, and his twin brother Darald, were born to Lawrence and Laura (Sackschewsky) Pieper in York, Nebraska on October 9, 1939 and passed away on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend at the age of 70 years 4 months and 22 days. Don attended York Public Schools until his sophomore year when he transferred to Seward Concordia High School, graduating in 1957. After graduation, he attended junior college for two years before enlisting in the United States Army Security Agency for a period of three years, 1962-64. His enlistment was served at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and Fort Devens, MA. He was discharged with the rank of Sgt E-5 in December 1964. Don has been a member of the American Legion for 41 years.
After discharge from the US Army he resumed his education at Peru State College and graduated in 1967 with an education degree, qualified to teach US History and coach. His first teaching position was at Clarks and it was at Clarks in the fall of 1967 that he met his wife, Connie Lee Bean of Inavale who was also in her first year of teaching. They were married on June 23, 1968, and moved to Utica, Nebraska where he taught and coached for three years at Centennial High School. This marriage was blessed with two children, Raina Lacene and Tyler Lee.
Don also taught and coached for four years at Friend High School from 1971-75. It was at Friend High School that he enjoyed his most cherished basketball coaching success. Most of the stat sheets, clip board and scorebooks from that time have been moved from home to home for thirty plus years. Only recently have these passed hands to former players. He loved to reminisce about these teams. Don always said that each team had their own personality and he loved to tell stories about the players, the 75 state tournament basketball team or any of the other teams that he coached over the years in football, basketball and track. The boys of those four years at Friend High School were always referred to by he and Connie as his "basketball boys". The only memories that could rival these years were those when he coached his own children at Fairmont High School. He considered himself fortunate to see his grandchildren begin their own athletic competitions.
He earned his Masters Degree in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in July of 1975. That summer the family moved to Axtell, Nebraska where Don was K-12 principal for three years, as well as girls' basketball coach for two years.
During the summer of 1978, Don assumed the position of Superintendent of Schools at Fairmont, a position he would hold for fourteen years before moving to Cedar Rapids, Nebraska for three years in 1992. By 1995, he was ready to return to south central Nebraska and Highway 6 when he became Superintendent of Schools at Dorchester, a position he held from 1995-2005 and again during the 2007/08 school year.
During his career as Superintendent of Schools, Don organized and managed three successful school bond elections for the construction of new facilities at Fairmont, Cedar Rapids and Dorchester. This was a unique accomplishment for a small school superintendent and something of which he was very proud. He was also very proud of the many successful staff members he hired over the years. Some of them moved far up the ladder of success to larger schools, but many others stayed with him in smaller schools and became excellent teachers, second to none.
Don is survived by his wife, Connie, Friend, his daughter Raina Pieper-Volkmer and her husband James, Sherwood, OR, son Tyler Lee Pieper and his wife Jennifer, Omaha, and the grandchildren who gave him so much joy: Abigail, Joseph and Evan Volkmer of Sherwood, OR, and Karlie, Cole and Cade Pieper of Omaha. On September 11, 2001, Raina and James lost their oldest daughter, Greer Elizabeth to cardiac disease. Each year as the media commemorated the events of that fateful day, Grandpa's memories were always of Greer, not the Twin Towers. Other survivors include his brothers and sisters-in-law, twin brother Darald and Barbara Pieper, Lansing, IL, Roger and Elaine Pieper, Lincoln, Glen and Laura Pieper, DeWitt, two aunts, Mildred Kath, DeWitt, Dorothy Sackschewsky, Thayer, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Wally and Barbara Bean, Inavale, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marla and Tim Teegerstrom, Stromsburg, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Stan and Pam Bean, Johnstown, OH, Bill and Elaine Bean, Lindsborg, KS, as well as nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Lawrence and Laura, granddaughter, Greer Elizabeth, and two uncles, Elmer Sackschewsky and Wilbert Kath.
A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2010, at Friend Christian Assembly, in Friend, with Pastor Jerry Gill officiating. Family burial at Andrew Cemetery, Friend. A family gathering to greet family and friends will be held from 5-7pm, Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Friend Christian Assembly, in Friend. In Lieu of Flowers, Memorials have been established to the American Cancer Society.