Obituary for Donald R. Paeper

Donald R. Paeper, 86, of Dubuque, IA fell asleep in the arms of the Lord surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at The Finley Hospital in Dubuque, IA. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Peter Lutheran Church located at 3200 Asbury Road, Dubuque, IA. Inurnment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN at a later date. Donald Roderic Paeper was born August 4, 1922 to Henry and Ethel (Ocheltree) Paeper in Van Wert, IA. He married Evelyn E. Miehe on March 10, 1946. Donald was a decorated World War II hero and a proud American. He was a member of the 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and fought from Omaha Beach across Europe until he was captured in Germany on October 25, 1944. He was a Prisoner Of War until his liberation on May 5, 1945. He was awarded a total of 10 medals for service to his country, including the Silver Star for Heroism In Action. Donald is survived by his wife Evelyn Paeper of Dubuque; Julie (Paeper) and Ernst Scharringhausen of Lansing, IA; Britt Scharringhausen and Jason Dettman of Beloit, WI; Gretchen Scharringhausen and Brian Dulaney of Holmen, WI and their children Benjamin and Michael; Marsha (Paeper) and Danny Shaffer of Dubuque, IA; Angela (Shaffer) and Stephen Puls of Dubuque, IA and their children Elizabeth, Kimberly and Chase; Andrea (Shaffer) and Brian Madsen of Evanston, IL and their child Kai; David and Cynthia Paeper of Excelsior, MN and their children Sara and Rachel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel Ocheltree and Henry Paeper and his siblings Margaret Macomber and Maxine Duerell. In lieu of flowers, please provide any memorials in the form of donations for cancer research. Online condolences may be left for the Paeper family by clicking on "Sign Guestbook" below.