IN LOVING MEMORY OF
James
Piefer
March 18, 1943 – November 8, 2024
Obituary
James Erwin Piefer, age 81, died Friday, November 8, 2024, at his home in Jackson, Wisconsin surrounded by his family.
James (Jim) was born March 18, 1943, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to William and Leila (Otto) Piefer. The eldest of six children, Jim grew up in Newton, Wisconsin and attended St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. Upon graduation Jim joined the Operating Engineers Local 139 and began his career as a heavy equipment operator. Notable projects for Jim during his forty plus years in the construction industry included the Nuclear Power Plant Two Creeks working for The Bechtel Engineering Company; The Sturgeon Bay Dry Dock working for Kiewit Corporation; The Manitowoc 8 th Street Bridge working for Zenith Tech; American Family Field in Milwaukee working for Edward E. Gillen Construction Company. He retired from his construction career in 2003 working for Gillen primarily doing water work projects. Jim remained a faithful Union member and received a Lifetime Membership Award in 2015 for 50 years of membership.
On June 27, 1964, Jim married Helen Gass, the love of his life, at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Osman, Wisconsin. Jim and Helen began their married life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, returned to Manitowoc, and eventually ended up in Newton, Wisconsin, where they lived for 27 years.
Jim and Helen had three children, Scott, Cheryl, and Kevin. While proud to be a crane operator, Jim's most prized job was being a father.
In the late 1970s, Jim would take a short hiatus from construction and he, Helen and the family would acquire Helen's family farm on County Highway C in Newton, Wisconsin. The family farmed for 10 years before the farm was sold and Jim and Helen would return to the Milwaukee area in anticipation of their next great adventure, becoming grandparents.
Jim and Helen enjoyed many trips that took them across the country. Travels always centered around family whether going to visit relatives or traveling with family. There were countless adventures – Washington, California, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, and every state in between as most travels were done by car. The trip that was most special was this past September, when they traveled to Washington DC to celebrate their granddaughter's wedding.
In January 2024 Jim was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Determined to beat cancer, Jim underwent six rounds of chemo and nearly six weeks of radiation, only to discover God had a different plan for him. He chose to spend his remaining time peacefully with his wife and family.
Jim is survived by his wife and soulmate, Helen (Gass), his three children; Scott and Sally (Dietrich) Piefer, Summit, Wisconsin, Cheryl and Frederick Wachtel, Slinger, Wisconsin, Kevin and Kristina (Siehr) Piefer, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, his five grandchildren; Lauren (Piefer) and Salvatore Hunter, Washington DC, Alec Piefer, Chicago, Illinois, Sydney Wachtel and Andrew Wachtel, Slinger, Wisconsin and Kiley Wachtel, Springfield, Illinois. Jim is also survived by a sister, Mari (Piefer) and David Roedig, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and two sisters-in-law; Beatrice (Gass) and Gerald O'Neil, Newton, Wisconsin, and Jean (Budnik) Piefer, Mt. Vernon, Texas. Jim is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leila (Otto) Piefer, parents-in-law, Reuben and Jane (Jagodinsky) Gass, three brothers, John, Tom, and Paul Piefer and one sister, Ann Piefer.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Oncology and Radiology Departments at Froedtert Hospital, and a special thank you to the Horizon Hospice team, especially Jennifer and Maria who showed great care and compassion in Jim's final days.
Jim's visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 9:00 am until 10:45 am, with the Mass of Christian Burial, at 11:00 am at St. Peter Catholic Church, 200 E. Washington St., Slinger, WI. Fr. Richard J. Stoffel presiding. Burial will be at New St. Peter Catholic Cemetery at 2:30PM. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.
The Phillips Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family, 262-338-2050 / phillipfuneralhome.com
James (Jim) was born March 18, 1943, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to William and Leila (Otto) Piefer. The eldest of six children, Jim grew up in Newton, Wisconsin and attended St. Joseph's Catholic Grade School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. Upon graduation Jim joined the Operating Engineers Local 139 and began his career as a heavy equipment operator. Notable projects for Jim during his forty plus years in the construction industry included the Nuclear Power Plant Two Creeks working for The Bechtel Engineering Company; The Sturgeon Bay Dry Dock working for Kiewit Corporation; The Manitowoc 8 th Street Bridge working for Zenith Tech; American Family Field in Milwaukee working for Edward E. Gillen Construction Company. He retired from his construction career in 2003 working for Gillen primarily doing water work projects. Jim remained a faithful Union member and received a Lifetime Membership Award in 2015 for 50 years of membership.
On June 27, 1964, Jim married Helen Gass, the love of his life, at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Osman, Wisconsin. Jim and Helen began their married life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, returned to Manitowoc, and eventually ended up in Newton, Wisconsin, where they lived for 27 years.
Jim and Helen had three children, Scott, Cheryl, and Kevin. While proud to be a crane operator, Jim's most prized job was being a father.
In the late 1970s, Jim would take a short hiatus from construction and he, Helen and the family would acquire Helen's family farm on County Highway C in Newton, Wisconsin. The family farmed for 10 years before the farm was sold and Jim and Helen would return to the Milwaukee area in anticipation of their next great adventure, becoming grandparents.
Jim and Helen enjoyed many trips that took them across the country. Travels always centered around family whether going to visit relatives or traveling with family. There were countless adventures – Washington, California, Colorado, South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, and every state in between as most travels were done by car. The trip that was most special was this past September, when they traveled to Washington DC to celebrate their granddaughter's wedding.
In January 2024 Jim was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Determined to beat cancer, Jim underwent six rounds of chemo and nearly six weeks of radiation, only to discover God had a different plan for him. He chose to spend his remaining time peacefully with his wife and family.
Jim is survived by his wife and soulmate, Helen (Gass), his three children; Scott and Sally (Dietrich) Piefer, Summit, Wisconsin, Cheryl and Frederick Wachtel, Slinger, Wisconsin, Kevin and Kristina (Siehr) Piefer, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, his five grandchildren; Lauren (Piefer) and Salvatore Hunter, Washington DC, Alec Piefer, Chicago, Illinois, Sydney Wachtel and Andrew Wachtel, Slinger, Wisconsin and Kiley Wachtel, Springfield, Illinois. Jim is also survived by a sister, Mari (Piefer) and David Roedig, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and two sisters-in-law; Beatrice (Gass) and Gerald O'Neil, Newton, Wisconsin, and Jean (Budnik) Piefer, Mt. Vernon, Texas. Jim is further survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leila (Otto) Piefer, parents-in-law, Reuben and Jane (Jagodinsky) Gass, three brothers, John, Tom, and Paul Piefer and one sister, Ann Piefer.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Oncology and Radiology Departments at Froedtert Hospital, and a special thank you to the Horizon Hospice team, especially Jennifer and Maria who showed great care and compassion in Jim's final days.
Jim's visitation will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 9:00 am until 10:45 am, with the Mass of Christian Burial, at 11:00 am at St. Peter Catholic Church, 200 E. Washington St., Slinger, WI. Fr. Richard J. Stoffel presiding. Burial will be at New St. Peter Catholic Cemetery at 2:30PM. Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society.
The Phillips Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family, 262-338-2050 / phillipfuneralhome.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Piefer, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
November
15
St Peter Catholic Church
9:00 - 10:45 am
Funeral Mass
November
15
St Peter Catholic Church
Starts at 11:00 am
James Piefer's Guestbook
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