Wayne Arnold Pieper

Funeral services for Wayne A. Pieper, age 80, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.  Rev. Michael Lilienthal will officiate. Military Honors will be accorded by local veteran’s organizations.  Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Wayne died Thursday, July 26, 2018 at his home.

Wayne Arnold Pieper was born March 5, 1938 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to Arnold F. and Hilda (Peterson) Pieper from Caledonia, Minnesota. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School in Caledonia and moved with his family to Cashton, Wisconsin where he graduated from high school.  While there, he played football for the first football team at Cashton High.  He was in FFA and was Snow King of the Snow Ball and was in the Homecoming Court. On April 14, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Johnson at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Cashton.  He was a nine-year member of the LaCrosse Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged when the unit disbanded.

Wayne and Sandra lived in Wilton, Wisconsin where he worked for Tilman Produce until moving to Albert Lea in 1956 to take over Al’s Shoe Repair from Alfred and Margaret Pieper.  From there he formed Pieper’s Western Store and Shoe Repair on East Clark Street which he owned and operated for 50 years. The store was Wayne’s heart and soul and he was so very proud of it. He also had Compact Coffee of Southern Minnesota for several years and Chapparel Snowmobile.  He was a member of the Junior Jaycees, Optimist, Sunset Saddle Club, and Circle C Rodeo in his younger years. Wayne was active at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church serving as president and vice president for several years.  He bought his dream farm north of Twin Lakes and raised his family, along with cattle and horses.  He was an avid trout fisherman and enjoyed hunting with his son, Rick in Montana, and other hunting buddies out west. Wayne and Sandra took several fishing trips to Canada over the years and a very memorable 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Sandra; son, Rick Pieper of Albert Lea; daughters, Lori Pieper of Twin Lakes, Terrie Bartness of Albert Lea, and Kathy Huglen of Crystal, Minnesota; grandchildren, Casey Bartness of Fort Bragg, Cassie Pieper of Twin Lakes, Jacob and Josh Huglen of Rochester, Jordan Huglen of Crystal; great-grandson, Ayden Ray Bartness; Brother, Gary (Carol) Pieper of Ashville, North Carolina; brother-in-law, Donald Johnson of Racine, Wisconsin; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends whom they dearly treasured.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Emma Pieper; sisters-in-law, Joanne Schmid, Joanne Johnson; brother-in-law, James Johnson; and in-laws, Clarence and Charlotte Johnson.

Memorials are preferred to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Albert Lea, the American Heart Association, or donor’s choice.