Ida Helen Pieper was born on December 29, 1912 to William and Bertha Holzapfel near Cuero in the Five Mile community and died on April 27, 2008 in Austin, TX.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Walter A. Pieper, brothers August Holzapfel and Otto Holzapfel, and sisters Marguerite Bohne and Elenita Fromme
She is survived by son J. W. Pieper and wife Jan, son Charles A. Pieper and wife Nelda, daughter Marilyn Carpenter and husband Wayne, daughter Beverly Oeltjen, and daughter D’Ette Ray-Rice and husband J.D. and by her grandchildren: Sondra Gips Phillips and husband Spencer, Mauri Pieper Tardy and husband James (Chip), Kalen Pieper Holmes and husband Sean, Thomas Pieper and wife Jeanette, John Pieper and wife Sara, Craig Carpenter, Lisa Rice, Abraham Oeltjen and wife Jennifer, Edward Oeltjen, Matthew Oeltjen, and Laurel Ray Ekrut and husband David. Her surviving great grandchildren are Marissa Gonzales, Hollis Tardy, James Tardy, Wesley Pieper, Lauren Pieper, Owen Pieper, Charles W. Pieper, Katherine Holmes, Ashleigh Phillips, Crea Phillips, Curtis Carpenter, and Skylar Carpenter.
Ida Helen Holzapfel graduated from Cuero High School in 1929 and managed the business affairs of her family farm following the death of her father. She married Walter Pieper on December 2, 1934 and the couple reared their five children on the homestead, farming and ranching there during most of the 70 years of their marriage.
Her interests centered on family, home, and community. A formative experience was going with her mother to women’s suffrage rallies when she was a child. Always ready to contribute her time and energy, she was involved in a wide range of activities over the years, from accompanying a nurse on home visits to vaccinate children against diseases, to working at the polls on election days, to supporting residents of Bluebonnet Youth Ranch with visits, game days, and gifts. She never wanted to miss an Extension Homemakers or Kopy Kats meeting. She was active in the Fraternal Order of Sons of Hermann. Cheering the Gobblers in football games around the state was one of her great thrills, and her motto was, “Once a Gobbler, Always a Gobbler
She was a member of Rabke United Methodist Church where she served for many years as a trustee and treasurer.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2 at Freund Funeral Home in Cuero. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3 at Freund Funeral Home. Interment will follow at RabkeCemetery.
Pallbearers will be Wes Dukes, Ricky Gohmert, Edward Keseling, Dale Murray, Jeff Schorre, and Michael Socarras. Honorary pallbearers are Don Davenport, Jerell Fromme, Amy Gohmert, Alton Holzapfel, Patrick Peyton, Thomas Rabke, Elywin Schorre, and Adalberto Socarras,
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Bluebonnet Youth Ranch or Rabke United Methodist Church or cemetery fund will be appreciated.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.freundfuneralhome.com