Obituary: Verdi Peper
Verdi Peper, age 88 of Loganville passed away peacefully late in the evening of Friday, June 21, 2024, at Agrace Hospice’s beautiful facility in Fitchburg.
Verdi Mae Biggers was born on July 31, 1935, to Guy & Alta Mae [Watson] Biggers at home in Vaiden, MS. She was the second of four children and their first daughter. During her years growing up in Mississippi she was called by her first and middle name, Verdi Mae. The family lived in Vaiden, Winona, and Grenada, MS. They moved to Greenville, MS, in 1942. She was both baptized and confirmed in her faith on Palm Sunday in April of 1946 at First Methodist Church in Greenville.
She met Harlan Klintworth at an afternoon Tea Dance held on the Greenville Air Force Base in September of 1952. He was an Air Force cadet and mechanic from Independence, KS. They were united in marriage on February 9, 1953, at a Methodist church in Rolling Fork, MS. She graduated from E.C. Bass Greenville High School in June of 1953. Verdi and Harlan lived in Lincoln, NE; Coffeeville, KS; Pittsburgh, KS; and Topeka, KS. She worked for Hallmark and Sears. She completed the Cosmetology course at Kansas State College of Pittsburg and graduated in May of 1960. They had fun dancing, waterskiing, and driving sports cars. They adopted a boy just before they moved from Topeka to Madison, WI, in October of 1965. They adopted another toddler, a boy, in 1968. They were thankful to be parents. They served as Youth leaders at church, raced and showed whippets, were charter members of a Madison waterski team, and enjoyed time at their cottage on the Wisconsin River near Lyndon Station. They were married 25 years. Harlan passed away suddenly on October 4, 1978.
She met LaVern Peper at a Valentine’s dance for widows and widowers in Madison in February of 1980. He was a dairy and crop farmer from Loganville with three sons and a daughter. They were united in marriage on February 7, 1981, at Monona Lutheran Church in Monona. They had fun dancing, traveling, and being with family. They were married 42 years. He preceded her in death on June 25, 2023.
She worked as a hairdresser at Attic Angels and UW Hospital both in Madison, at assisted living facilities in the Reedsburg and Loganville area, and for clients who were homebound. She retired in 2010 at the age of 75. She was an active member at church. She sang in the choir, gladly welcomed visitors, and taught Sunday School having each of her students memorize Psalm 23. She liked to go out to eat, to reminisce, and to visit with people. She never met a stranger. In retirement, she was a volunteer driver for Sauk County’s Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), taking people to their medical appointments. She was a special asset to the ADRC because she was comfortable driving in Madison. In retirement she and LaVern enjoyed being active members and playing Euchre with local card groups and Reedsburg Senior Citizens. She enjoyed watching sports, true crime, game shows, and shows about cars, history, music, and travel. She liked to travel to see family and friends or to travel with them. She had memorable trips to Hawaii, Alaska, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, and Europe - including Germany, Italy, Austria, France, and Luxembourg - to name a few. She loved her family. She adored her grandchildren and attended as many of their activities as possible.
She is further preceded in death by her brother, Joseph “Joe” Biggers of Philadelphia, MS, her dear sisters Margaret “Neita” Moreland of Metairie, LA, and Florence “Etta” Patrick of Rocklin, CA, adopted
sister Ruth LuBrent, numerous dear in-laws, and step-son Paul Peper in April of 2024.
She is survived by children Robert “Bob” Klintworth of St Joseph, MO, and Dane (Sarah) Klintworth of Neenah; step-children Doug Peper of Loganville, Brian (Katie) Peper of rural Loganville, and Pamela Peper of rural Loganville who served as her caregiver in her final years; daughter-in-law Linda Peper of rural LaValle; grandchildren Elizabeth “Liz” (Nathan) Sauer who she raised as a daughter, Erica (Alec) Brown, Alex (Karli) Klintworth, Hannah Klintworth, Aaron (Oxana) Peper, Brittany (Christopher) Cordero, Brandon Peper, Brady (Katherine “Kat”) Peper, Addie Peper (fiance’ Kyle Adelman), and Colton (Michaela) Peper; great grandchildren Ellie; Sophie and August; Liam, Noah, and Olivia; Aspyn; and Riley Mae; dear in-laws Charles Moreland, Mary Ann Koenecke, Gerald & Margaret Roecker, and Bill & Diane Thieding; cousins, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Her memorial service will be held at noon on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at St John’s Lutheran Church in Hillpoint. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow immediately at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page: St John’s & Trinity Lutheran Churches – WELS. Verdi and Harlan share a headstone at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence, Kansas. A memorial donation will be made to the ADRC.
Thanks to the following for their care, compassion, and professionalism over the years: Agrace Palliative, Agrace Hospice, BrightStar Care of Baraboo, Reedsburg Area Medical Center, and UW Health – especially Dr Andrea Schnell and nurse Kim.
Cremation Society of Madison assisted the family.
