Joseph P. Pieper, age 91, of Marystown, passed away on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home. Joseph was a lifelong farmer and a skilled woodworker. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and playing cards. Joseph was a wonderful man and will be deeply missed by his family. The visitation is Friday, December 26, 2014, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at St. Mary of the Purification, Shakopee. Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at St. Mary of the Purification, Shakopee. Joseph will be laid to rest at the St. Mary’s of Marystown Catholic Cemetery next to his wife.

On March 19, 1923, Tony and Theresa Pieper celebrated the birth of their beautiful baby boy. He was born on St. Joseph’s Day so they named him Joseph Peter Pieper. Joe loved growing up on the family dairy farm. It was there that he developed a strong work ethic and determination that carried him through his life.

Joe left home when he was 18. He worked at local farms for a number of years. Joe was a hard worker, but he always found time to enjoy life too. Joe frequently attended dances in Carver and Spring Lake. It was at one of those dances that he met the love of his life, Marcella Streiff. The two began dating and their love blossomed. Joe and Marcy exchanged wedding vows on October 21, 1946 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Credit River.

Soon after their wedding, Joe and Marcy moved into a house that Joe built for them. They were only in this house for six months before selling it to move back out to the country. Joe was a country boy at heart, and the farm is where he belonged. They eventually moved to the Haus farm where they raised their family. They were blessed with 11 wonderful children, Linda, Nancy, Rosalie, Mary, Angela, Ellen, Rita, Edwin, Joyce, Daniel and Thomas. Sadly, their daughter Rosalie died when she was only 17 months old.

Grief struck their family again the summer of 1967 when Joe’s wife Marcy passed away unexpectedly. There were a lot of people who thought that this would split up their family, but Joe was determined to keep them together. The older kids helped care for the younger, and their family continued to live on the farm where their life was centered around chores and church. They’d work every day of the week, and Joe instilled a strong work ethic in his children by the example he set. As a family they enjoyed going visiting and spending time with extended family. They especially enjoyed when Joe’s dad would come to visit on the third Sunday of every month.

Eventually Joe sold his dairy cattle and partially retired. He was a lifelong farmer, and loved his John Deere tractor. His corn rows were always planted in the straightest rows, and his sweet corn was delicious. His trick was to place a radio in the center of the field and blare WCCO day and night to keep the raccoons away.

Even in retirement, Joe kept busy. He had a large vegetable garden and still kept a few beef cattle. Joe was a skilled woodworker and made many toy tractors and machines throughout the years. Joe also taught many generations how to play cards. His favorite games were 500 and Sheepshead. Joe was a strong and determined family-man. Faith, family and farming were the most important things in his life. He was a wonderful father and a loving grandpa. Joe will be deeply missed by his family.

Joe will be remembered always by his children, Linda (Robert) Krueger, Nancy (Tom) Nagel, Mary (Tom) Haugh, Angela (Greg) Dressen, Ellen (Dewey) Brinkman, Rita (Charles) Stans, Ed (Mary) Pieper, Joyce Friedges, Dan (Ann) Pieper, Tom (Bobbi Jo) Pieper; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, Julian Pieper, Elmer (Ethel) Pieper, Clem Pieper; sisters, Loretta Hoffman, Mary (Marv) Gregory; sisters-in-law, Helen Pieper and Phyllis Pieper; other loving relatives and friends.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Marcella Pieper; daughter, Rosalie Pieper; parents, Tony and Theresa Pieper; brothers, Roman Pieper, Albert Pieper, Leonard Pieper; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Pieper and Sally Pieper; brother-in-law, Beatus Hoffman.

The Pieper family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation.

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