Obituary: Gary L. “Louie” Peper
Gary L. “Louie” Peper passed away at his home in Eagle River, WI after a short illness on August 25, 2023. He was born the youngest child of Gerhart & Leona Peper on August 2, 1948 and raised on the family farm in Loganville, WI. It was growing up on the farm where he was instilled with a persevering work ethic from which he never seemed to waver. He married Shirley M. (Hanko) Peper on August 8, 1970, recently celebrating 53 years of marriage.
Gary was a volunteer fireman for Cottage Grove Fire Department (CGFD) for over 25 years serving as Assistant Chief under Chief Bruce Boxrucker. He started work as a machinist at National Electrostatics Corp (NEC) in Middleton, WI when they were a young company in the late 1960's. He rose to personnel manager and left the company in 1990 to establish his own business, Grove Machine & Tool, Inc. (GMT) in Cottage Grove. After dissolving GMT, he worked for a short time at Wisconsin Built in Deerfield, WI and eventually returned to NEC as a production specialist before retiring.
Gary had a sense of humor that was one of a kind and was always on top of the weather. He loved the outdoors, a lawn that rivaled the Brewer's playing field, UW Badgers, fishing, his dogs and pontooning the Eagle River Chain. Over the years, he enjoyed snowmobiling, motorcycling on his Harley Davidson, camping, Nascar, UTV outings, and never ending projects which all received his attention to detail with high quality results.
Gary was an eleven year survivor of colo-rectal cancer, becoming a strong advocate for early screening. He was forever grateful for the intervention and treatment received at UWHC-Madison and continued care received at SSMHC until his permanent move to Eagle River, then establishing care with Aspirus.
He is survived by spouse Shirley, canines Anja & Jaxon, sister Joann (Wayne) Schulenburg and brother Richard (Janet) Peper. In-laws, Lucy (Wayne) Whitlock, Joyce Graves, Tim (Karen) Hanko, Kerri (Kurt) Lentz. He is further survived by nieces and nephews and their families, a special nephew Todd Peper (Lynette), Debbie (Mark) Meister, Rick (Dawn) Schulenburg, Julie (Greg) Adelman, Tracie (Erik) Haugen, Kristene (Mike) Schulte, Karen Sheppard, Kevin (Jen) Whitlock, Kara (Kieran) O'Keeffe, Allison and Emma Graves, Brooke (Ryan) Relich, Courtney (Troy) Kuhl, Erin (Cory) Siemandel, Nik (Lindsey) Hanko, Tyler (Ashley) Lentz, Lindsey Lentz and Brady McDonald, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, In-laws Francis and Norma Hanko, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Larry and Gail Hanko, nephew-in-law Blake Sheppard, dear friend Doug Bollig and much loved canines Pepper, Shanon, Ginger, Max, Mindy, Ernie and Chipper.
Per Gary's wishes there will be no formal funeral. If you wish to remember him with memorials please do so to the Dane County Humane Society, Northwoods Animal Alliance, Cottage Grove Fire Department, UW Foundation - Wisconsin Medicine or a charity of your choice.
Time has stolen away our stars and only the night endures, yet somewhere in the darkness Love, my hand will still seek yours. (Author unknown)
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com
