Joseph C. Peeper, age 90 of Elwood, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015 at I.U. Health Tipton Hospital after a brief illness. He was born on January 29, 1925 in Bluffton, the son of Joseph and Flossie (Christ) Peeper. He attended Millersburg High School in Millersburg, Ohio, and later served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps as an airplane mechanic during W.W.II in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in December, 1945. Later, he joined the Air National Guard in both Ohio and Michigan and received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in 1965. Joe was a devoted member of the Alexandria First Baptist Church where he his wife, Barbara were active in the JOY Sunday School Class, whose members are very special to them. He was also affiliated with the First Christian Church in Homasassa Springs, Florida. Joe retired from Marathon Oil Company in 1970 after more than 28 years of service and then worked for the Elwood Community School Corporation as a maintenance supervisor. Joe and Barbara made several trips to Cyvadier, Haiti to oversee the building of the Missionary Home for Tina Isenhower, a missionary with Damou Christian Mission. At the end of WWII, Joe used the G.I. Bill to become a pilot and flew small planes for many years. In 1998 he was privileged to meet and speak with Paul W. Tibbets, BGEN USAF, Retired. Tibbets was the pilot of the Enola Gay and author of the book, "Enola Gay". In 2003 the Peepers presented a copy of that book and "The Complete History of the F4U Corsair" book to the Elwood Middle School library. In April of 2013 Joe participated in the "Honor Flight" program which flies W.W.II veterans to the W.W.II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Joe was a humble servant of God, and quite proud of his family, especially his three sons and two grandson who all served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Joe is survived by his wife of 26 years whom he married October 28, 1988, Barbara (Leisure) Peeper of Elwood; 4 children, Michael (wife Janene) Peeper of Elwood, Patrick Peeper (friend Susan Ashley) of Ft. Wayne, Susan (husband Mark) Brown of Tipton, and Marc (wife Debbie) Peeper of Payson, AZ; 3 step-children, Pamela (husband Alan) Floyd of Elwood, Pennie Edyvean of Fishers, and Bruce (wife Katrina) Williams of Bloomington; 20 grandchildren, Kelly (husband Frank) Gosnell of Tipton, Sara Popplewell of Tipton, Michael Peeper, Jr. of Elwood, Anna (husband Scott) Servies of Tipton, Brian (wife Summer) Peeper of Ft. Wayne, Eric Peeper of Garrett, Kevin Peeper of Garrett, December (husband Nick) Sigler of Anderson, Rachel (husband Wesley) Moore of Indianapolis, Bethany Brown of Arcadia, Florise (husband Corderro) Earls of Searcy, AZ, Ernso Brown of Muncie, Marie Jose Brown of Indianapolis, Reagan Peeper of Anthem, AZ, Riley Peeper of Anthem, AZ, Ty Wittkamper of Elwood, Aron (wife Becky) Wittkamper of East Sandwich, MA, Justin (wife Amanda) Floyd of Noblesville, Carrie Williams (fiancé Brian Briksi) of Crown Point, Tiffany (husband Jeff) Sanford of Greenwood; 25 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife of 41 years, Rachel (Medley) Peeper; and 3 brothers, Arnold Peeper, Theron Peeper, and Marion Peeper.

A Home Going Celebration service will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Alexandria First Baptist Church, 2107 S. Park Avenue, Alexandria, with Rev's Dr. Michael Deutsch and Cliff Richardson officiating. Burial will follow in the Knox Chapel Cemetery in Point Isabel with military honors by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Elwood VFW Honor Guard. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 4 to 8 PM at the First Baptist Church in Alexandria and 1 hour prior to the celebration service on Wednesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Damou Christian Mission in Haiti - Tina Isenhower, missionary; and envelopes will be provided. Online condolences may be made at www.copherfeslermay.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood.