Carl Adolph Peppel

Carl Peppel, 86, of Berrien Springs, passed away Saturday, July 7, 2012 at The Willows Assisted Living in St. Joseph. Carl Adolph Peppel was born on September 19, 1925 to Rudolph & Bertha (Skibbe) Peppel on the family farm in Eau Claire, MI. He was one of nine children in the Peppel household. He is survived by his two brothers, John (Geri) Peppel of Benton Harbor, and Gustave (Lorraine) Peppel of Eau Claire. He was preceded in death by his sister Helen Dahlke, brothers Herbert, Ervin, David, two infant brothers, his parents and step-mother Anna. He was also preceded in death by his wife Rita Marie Brown whom he married on Christmas Day 1949 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. She died in 2006. They were married 56 years. Carl is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary (Edwin) Diener. Carl and Rita had three children Kathleen Ann Rush (David) of Berrien Springs, MI, Karen Marie Potter (Andrew) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Linda Louise DeFord (William) of Coloma, MI; His grandchildren Bradley (Michelle) Rush of St. Joseph, MI, Carrie (Jacob) Deitrich of Pittsburgh, PA, Stephanie Potter of Philadelphia, PA, Amanda Potter of Durham, North Carolina, Rebecca and Andrew Potter of Fredericksburg, VA, Brendan and Christopher DeFord of Coloma, MI, and his great-grandson who always put a smile on his face, Landon David Rush of St. Joseph, MI. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Carl worked at Whirlpool Corporation retiring in 1987. He also worked on his farm raising various crops and animals including horses, rabbits, and black angus. His favorite hobby was raising pigeons. He raced homing pigeons, bringing home trophies and ribbons for his efforts on training his birds. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 4:00 P.M. Saturday, July 14, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or Hope Ministries. Those wishing to share a memory of Carl online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. A dinner will follow the service.