Lt Col George A Piper, Jr
Lt Col George A Piper, Jr, USAF, 87 passed away Monday December 28, 2020. Born
June 14, 1933 to George and Olive (Van Vuren) Piper in Reedsburg, WI. He was the oldest of
six children, Thomas, Carol Kenton, Polly Hendel and Joyce survive him with Mary Deem
preceding him in death.
On Nov 25, 1955 George married Patsy ChambIess and they have three surviving
children, Jerry (Laura), Spring, TX, Elizabeth (David Schmid), Nekoosa, WI, and Janice,
Waterford, WI. Four other children Shirley, Susan, William and Charles died in infancy. George
has 9 grandchildren, Curtis, Brandon, Brian, Matthew, Alicia, Craig, Michael, Leah, and Rachel
and 11 great-grandchildren.
Born on Flag Day, George’s patriotism was life-long. He joined ROTC while attending
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and was commissioned a 2Lt in the Air Force in 1955.
He was a Navigator and upon leaving active duty he joined the Air Force Reserve’s 440th Troop
Carrier Wing at General Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, WI. During his career he flew C-119’s, C-
123’s, and C-13OA’s retiring in July 1983 after 28 years of service. He proudly served on the
Honor Guard with the Essman-Schroeder American Legion Post, Waterford, WI, until Alzheimer’s
disease restricted his ability to continue.
George was a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ building two homes by himself and enjoyed restoring
several Ford Model A’s and other collector cars and tractors. There was little beyond his ability
to fix, skills he learned as a youth on a hard-working dairy farm in Sharon, WI, and college
summers in construction.
Upon retiring from the Air Force Reserve, George and Pat moved to Columbia, MO,
where they resided on their 25 acre ‘hobby farm’ until early Alzheimer’s issues created the need
to return in 2016 to be closer to family.
With Covid-19 concerns the family is planning private ceremony with military honor guard burial at
Oakwood Cemetery in Sharon, WI.
For more information call the funeral home at 262-275-2171.
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