Obituary for Claude Pepper
Claude Sheldon Pepper, formerly of Big Rapids, Michigan, passed away peacefully October 10/10/2022 at his home in Porter Hills Village in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the age of 90. Claude was born December 2, 1931, in Melrose, Ohio, the son of Glenn and Laura (Johnson) Pepper.
He married Carolyn Jeanne Hawkins in 1956. They had three children together and spent most of their married life in Big Rapids. Following Jeanne’s death in 1991, Claude married Jane A. Newman.
Claude graduated from Paulding High School in Paulding, Ohio in 1949. He joined the Active Army reserves and was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in 1959. Growing up, his family owned the Pepper family grocery business; after his parents’ deaths in 1954 and 1955, he owned and operated the store until he sold it in 1960. He graduated from Stout State University in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree in industrial education. Following graduation, Claude became a Professor in the Automotive Department, teaching Auto Machining at Ferris State University until his retirement in 1990.
Claude and Jeanne enjoyed camping and time with their family at their Pretty Lake cottage during their busy years of work and raising children. Claude and Jane enjoyed travel adventures in their motor home. They wintered for ten years at Terra Ceia Manor in Palmetto, Florida, where Claude worked tirelessly as President and Treasurer to help develop and improve their resident-owned community. They enjoyed lasting friendships from that time.
Claude loved his family and friends, as well as his neighbors wherever he lived. With his gentle, open spirit, he connected to most everyone he met. He was always the “go-to person” as he could fix pretty much anything and he was known for his patience and kindness. His passions were teaching, his students, and “anything with an engine.” Nothing gave him more pleasure than working on his Kubota and John Deere tractors. Among his many talents, he could identify boats on the lake or cars in the driveway just by hearing the engine. He entertained his Pretty Lake and Clear Lake neighbors with his inventions for removing muck from the beach and channels. He read extensively and never missed the news and weather reports, making him a wealth of information on local and world affairs as well as whether a jacket or umbrella would be needed on any given day. He participated in the early Hospice startup in Big Rapids, served as president of the Clear Lake Association and was an active member of the Edgewater Point Condo Association and the Big Rapids First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Newman Pepper; three children, Glen (Renee) Pepper, Cindy (Frank) Kamish and Carolyn Pepper (Doug Russel); two granddaughters, Lauren (Kevin) Norton and Lindsay (Donovan Campbell) Pepper; seven Newman children, Lise (Deke) Graham, Katie Watkins, Janet Smith, Tracy (Bob) Craighead, Jim Newman, Rick Newman, and Elaine (Scot) Abbott; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Pepper, sister-in-law Dean Pepper, and son-in-law, Steve Van Winkle.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to the Porter Hills Foundation, First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids, Spectrum Health Hospice or charity of choice.
He married Carolyn Jeanne Hawkins in 1956. They had three children together and spent most of their married life in Big Rapids. Following Jeanne’s death in 1991, Claude married Jane A. Newman.
Claude graduated from Paulding High School in Paulding, Ohio in 1949. He joined the Active Army reserves and was honorably discharged as a Master Sergeant in 1959. Growing up, his family owned the Pepper family grocery business; after his parents’ deaths in 1954 and 1955, he owned and operated the store until he sold it in 1960. He graduated from Stout State University in Menomonie, Wisconsin in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree in industrial education. Following graduation, Claude became a Professor in the Automotive Department, teaching Auto Machining at Ferris State University until his retirement in 1990.
Claude and Jeanne enjoyed camping and time with their family at their Pretty Lake cottage during their busy years of work and raising children. Claude and Jane enjoyed travel adventures in their motor home. They wintered for ten years at Terra Ceia Manor in Palmetto, Florida, where Claude worked tirelessly as President and Treasurer to help develop and improve their resident-owned community. They enjoyed lasting friendships from that time.
Claude loved his family and friends, as well as his neighbors wherever he lived. With his gentle, open spirit, he connected to most everyone he met. He was always the “go-to person” as he could fix pretty much anything and he was known for his patience and kindness. His passions were teaching, his students, and “anything with an engine.” Nothing gave him more pleasure than working on his Kubota and John Deere tractors. Among his many talents, he could identify boats on the lake or cars in the driveway just by hearing the engine. He entertained his Pretty Lake and Clear Lake neighbors with his inventions for removing muck from the beach and channels. He read extensively and never missed the news and weather reports, making him a wealth of information on local and world affairs as well as whether a jacket or umbrella would be needed on any given day. He participated in the early Hospice startup in Big Rapids, served as president of the Clear Lake Association and was an active member of the Edgewater Point Condo Association and the Big Rapids First United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Newman Pepper; three children, Glen (Renee) Pepper, Cindy (Frank) Kamish and Carolyn Pepper (Doug Russel); two granddaughters, Lauren (Kevin) Norton and Lindsay (Donovan Campbell) Pepper; seven Newman children, Lise (Deke) Graham, Katie Watkins, Janet Smith, Tracy (Bob) Craighead, Jim Newman, Rick Newman, and Elaine (Scot) Abbott; 11 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Pepper, sister-in-law Dean Pepper, and son-in-law, Steve Van Winkle.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to the Porter Hills Foundation, First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids, Spectrum Health Hospice or charity of choice.