Verna Pieper

Verna Pieper was born on a farm in East Boyer Township, Denison, Iowa, where Yellow Smoke Park is now located, January 31, 1919, the daughter of Henry Claus and Mildred Marie Mahoney Hadenfeld.  She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church February 14, 1919 and confirmed in her Christian Faith there in January of 1936.  Verna was raised on the farm and graduated from Denison High School with the class of 1935.  On June 20, 1940, Verna was united in marriage with Ralph Lowell (Spike) Pieper at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage in Denison.  They made their home in Denison and their union was blessed with three daughters and one son: Judi, Virginia, Mary and Curtis.  Verna spent her entire life in Denison and was employed at various businesses throughout her working career.  Mr. Pieper died January 25, 1981 and Verna remained in her home, later residing at Heritage House before moving to the Denison Care Center in April of 2014. In her leisure time she enjoyed hiking, fishing, rock collecting, bird watching and traveling.  She was a former member of the United Presbyterian Church and United Presbyterian Women serving as their secretary and treasurer.  She enjoyed serving on the Crawford County Arts Council and was a charter member of both the Neal Moeller Nature Center and the Crawford County Hospice.  Verna died Monday afternoon, June 20, 2016, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa, having been blessed with 97 years, 4 months, and 20 days. Including her parents, Henry and Mildred Hadenfeld and her husband Spike Pieper, Verna was also preceded in death by one son: Curtis Pieper; one grandson: Jeff Brown: three brothers: Arnold, Erich and Henry Hadenfeld and three sisters: Marianna Maupin, Dorothy Williams and Betty Johnson. Those remaining to cherish her memory include her daughters: Judi (Pete) Brown of La Quinta, California, Virginia Siemer of Omaha, Nebraska, and Mary (Barry) Jose of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Daughter-in-law, Son Pieper of Seoul, South Korea; 9 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 1 great great granddaughter expected on July 31; other relatives and friends.