"Our sympathy to the family. Mr Pieper was a great person, teacher and friend. It was always a pleasure to visit with him after the matches in Madison, he always had time to talk about RCHS as well as wrestling. Mr Pieper was my phy ed teacher at RCHS and we had a lot of fun, Will be missed greatly. RIP, ,,Stan Fritzi Goplen,,Richland Center"
In loving memory of
LaVerne M. Pieper
July 5, 1936 - October 1, 2017
Stoughton - LaVerne Milton Pieper, age 81, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 1, 2017. He was born on July 5, 1936 in Caledonia, Minnesota, the son of Milton and Lorena (Krick) Pieper. He married Beverly J. Krieger on June 14, 1958.
Vern is survived by his wife Beverly Pieper; children, Pamela (Mark) Sosna of Signal Mountain, TN., Nancy (Gary) Dvorak of Stoughton, Shelley (Jim) Gerber of Stoughton, Dan Pieper of Columbia, MO., and Ron Pieper of Stoughton.; grandchildren, Josh, Jake, and Elizabeth Sosna, Chris, Nick and Rachel Dvorak, Sean (Melissa Carmody), Eric (Mackenzie), Ben and Michael Gerber, Emily (Jacoby Bell), Andrew and Claire Pieper, Cianna, Sam, Ty, and Sophie Pieper; great grandchild Jayce Bell. He is also survived by his brother, Bernhard Pieper; sister, Joanne (Ron) Jahns, and brother in-law Donald Strange.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Lorena Pieper; sisters, Linda Pieper and Dawn (John) Meyer; mother-in-law, Esther Boyer; sisters and brother in-law, Wanda Pieper, Marian Strange, Dorothy (Bob) Wade; granddaughter, Megan Dvorak.
Vern graduated from Winona State University where he earned four letters in football and two letters in wrestling and became a NAIA All-American. After college Vern was a teacher and the wrestling coach in Richland Center from 1958-1962 and in Stoughton from 1962-1995.
Vern coached 7 State Team championships along with 20 Badger Conference championships, 28 State Individual champions plus 53 other state place winners. Of those two individuals became silver medalists in the Olympics and both became Big Ten coaches. (Ohio State and Wisconsin)
In 1997-1998 his team scored 140 points in the State wrestling tournament; the highest point total in the 45-year history of state wrestling tournaments, still stands today.
Vern received many accolades throughout his career. Some of which are;
1968 Madison Area Sportsman Award
1975 Wisconsin High School Coach of the Year - Scholastic Wrestling News
1976 Wisconsin Coach of the Year
1977 Wrestlers of WI Award for Being President
1978 Twenty-five Year Coaching Award
1979 WI George Martin Wrestling Hall of Fame
1988 Wrestling USA Man-of-the-Year
1994 Stoughton Sports Booster Club President's Recognition Award
1997 Officiated NCAA III Wrestling Championships
1997 Stoughton High School Honorary "S" Club Member
1999 Richland Center Wrestling and Athletic Hall of Fame
2000 Winona State University Athletic Hall of Fame
Vern was a good Christian man. He was a founding member of Good Shepherd by the Lake Lutheran Church. Vern loved his grandchildren, Cubs, Stoughton Wrestling, and gardening. Vern received the Lions Club Melvin Jones Fellowship award. Vern and Bev were King and Queen of Syttende Mai in 1999.
In Lieu of flowers memorials to: Good Shepherd By the Lake, LaVerne Pieper Achievement Award, or Agrace HospiceCare.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 6, 2017 at Good Shepherd By the Lake, 1860 US HWY 51, Stoughton. Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Cress Funeral Home 206 W. Prospect St., Stoughton. Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Friday at Church. Vern will be laid to rest at Lutheran Cemetery South in Stoughton. Following the services family and friends are invited to a meal in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Tributes
"To the Pieter Family, The Monroe Wrestling Family sends its condolences, I always enjoyed my talks with Vern at wrestling matches. Lots of respect and admiration for him. Bet my prayers are with you and your entire family. Tom Witt Monroe Wrestling "
"Bev n family, thanks for today. I remember chatting with Vern about life and he said he trys to show students to strive for progress and not perfection. Alot in so few words. Lovenhugs from Theresa Dennis Ganshert and family "
"Our condolences to Coach Pieper's family and friends. Coach Pieper was an inspirational leader,mentor and friend. Vern and Gloria Geishert RCHS "64" "
"I truly believe that every so often God gives us a person who really has the ability to make a difference in other people's lives. Vern was such a man. Whether he was pushing you to do your best on the mat, teaching you a new skill in class, or talking with you one on one...you always knew that he cared! Thanks Coach for making a difference in my life. To the Pieper family...I pray that in the days to come that you will find comfort knowing you will see him again through the hope and promise of the resurrection in Jesus Christ. God Bless, Rev. Doug Smyth. Class of 1982."
"I was sad to read about Coach/Teacher LaVerne Pieper's recent passing. He was my Civics teacher and Freshman/JV football coach in 1958-59 at Richland Center, WI High School. He was quiet, focused, caring, supportive, respectful with specific and high expectations for student/athlete success. He was liked and respected by students for who he was personally as well a what he achieved as an educator,teacher and coach. He encouraged me to attend Winona State University{ which I did as a graduate student and was the first or one of the first students to earn their Ed.S degree in Educational Management. He will be greatly missed. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him. May he rest in eternal peace. Patrick F.Manning-- RCHS Class of 1962"
"I would like to offer my condolences to the Pieper family on the loss of Vern. My experiences with Vern involved wrestling events, and whenever I saw him the following statement always came to mine:"You cannot define class but you sure as heck can recognize it when you see it".Vern was the epitome of that statement. Vern's passing leaves a huge hole in the Wisconsin Wrestling community. Duffy Brelsford "
"Like so many, I had the good fortune to be coached both on and off the mat by Coach Pieper, I am very grateful for this. He was passionate about many things; I believe the top 3 were wrestling, his family, and God. It was clear to me at an early age that he put wrestling a distant 3rd. Bev, Pam, Nancy, Shelley, Dan, Ron and your families I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you peace, and may God rest his soul. "
"I write this with a heavy heart. I always looked up to Mr. PIeper and he was very influential in encouraging me to become a Phy. Ed. Teacher. Both Verne and Bev were mentors for me. Later in life he once told me how he especially liked us kids that worked in the tobacco fields, he thought we were some of his best kids. One plus for those darn tobacco fields !! Verne was a sincere guy with a great work ethic and Stoughton just lost one of its best. With sincere sympathy, Cheryl (VIke) Breitbach"
"Very sorry to hear that Vern had passed.Will always admire how Vern treated his wrestlers.My son Tony learned much more than wrestling from Vern, and many years later,when Tony died,Vern came to the wake with some encouraging words to me.He was a great teacher"
"Good Bye Verne, Thanks for all the good times and the entertainment that you provided over the years. Dave Pernot."
"I was just told this morning of the passing of Vern. Please accept my deepest condolences. As a new teacher to Stoughton, both he and Bev warmly opened their home and gave me insights to the community. My wife and I were included in their family gatherings when wrestling tournaments kept us from retuning home to our families. I remember Vern's detail in coaching wrestling. He was always well respected by the students and the sparkle in his eyes was a constant reminder of his joy for life. I am sorry that I will miss his visitation and funeral. Again, with deepest sympathy, Jim Schroeder. "
"I'm sorry I can't be there to pay my respects in person, but I want to express my respect for Vern and my sympathies to the family. Vern was a measuring stick for any beginning wrestling coaches, and I greatly valued the meets between Middleton and Stoughton and the competition they created. Vern made high school wrestling better, and he made me a better coach. Vern was a great man, and I hope his family will find comfort knowing many people thought so. I'm sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Parker Vivoda, former Middleton Wrestling Coach"
"Vern did a lot for Stoughton and made us proud. It's was a sad day Thinking of you Bev and family Ann and Fred Rouse"
"Verne's quality as a teacher and as a neighbor was surpassed only by his quality as a man to god and his family. They simply don't make men like him any more. Rest well Verne, and deepest sympathies to Bev and the rest of the Pieper family."
"When I moved to Stoughton in my junior year, Mr. Pieper saw my Iowa wrestling shirt and his eyes lit up. "Did you grow up wrestling back in Iowa?" he asked. I hung my head and replied, "no, I played baseball". Without missing a beat, Mr. Pieper said, "well, some guys wrestle, some guys play with balls"! True story.. Mr. Pieper then shook my hand and welcomed me to Stoughton. Genuinely a kind man, a true gentleman and the type of man to emulate. Rest well, Mr. Pieper..."
"Mr. Pieper was my high school safety net. He had an easy, never rushed approach. He asked, and he listened with sincerity. He never judged. Mr. Pieper engaged every student equally. Bob and I had many discussions with our children about Coach Pieper's suggestive style: "I can see what you're doing there. But maybe if you try it like this..." His positive influence on our lives is lasting. As a teacher, a mentor, a coach, and a friend, Verne set a standard met by few. "
"While Stoughton loses a legend (he will never be forgotten), Heaven just gained one. Coach Pieper was not only a great teacher, coach and human being he was a pillar of the Stoughton Community. He influenced so many people in his lifetime and motivated me to want to become a teacher and coach like him. He has given me so much great advice. We will miss you so much coach. God Bless. Mark Mullen "
"Verne, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the example you set for my son, Brad Logsdon, who wrestled for you at Stoughton! He has grown up to be quite the man! You were a model of what kids can learn from! God bless you!"
"Verne will always be remembered not only as a great coach and teacher, but as a truly caring family friend. So many cherished memories and family gatherings together. And the many hunting adventures on our family farm in Richland County. Thinking of you, Bev and family. Sending our condolences and lots of hugs. Love, Dawn Dosch-Betters"
"Verne was a good man.great teacher.i remember how excited I would be to walk in the classroom and see that our teacher was gone and Verne was our sub. Always a pleasure to see him and shake his hand. With tears in my eyes I leave you this message.God is good all the time. Verne will be missed by me. Rest in paradise verne.you fought the good fight"
"His expectations were high, for himself and for his wrestlers. When I hear "STOUGHTON" I think wrestling...and Vern's dedication and hard work will keep Stoughton wrestling in the headlines for many years! Thank you Vern."
"I was fortunate to be part of the Pieper wrestling legacy at Richland Center, have always had the greatest respect and memories of both Vern and Beverly. Lyle Fox"
"Great coach, Great teacher, Great man... A quarter century later, and I still draw on the values and lessons "Stern Verne" instilled in his students and his wrestlers. I try to instill them in my own children. I was lucky to have know him and lucky to have Verne Pieper as a part of my life. "
"Sorry to hear , great man , God bless Daryl Booth"
"With all the success that Vern had over the years he really never made any enemies. Duane Kleven"
"Vern was a great wrestling coach but even a better man. Wrestling was the tool he used to influence so many young lives. He modeled care, concern and dignity. He made doing what was right look easy even when it was not easy. He built the foundation that Wisconsin wrestling stands on today. "
"We were "garden buddies". Our tree farm abuts the area his daughter and son-in-law plotted for his amazing crop. The world is a better place with such a giving soul, Love, Debbie and Dwight Pautz"
"LaVerne was a good man. He also was my wrestling coach and did a great job. He will be missed by many of his wrestlers."
"Sorry to learn of the LEGENDARY LaVerne Pieper passing. My thoughts to the family and all those athletes and families that he touched. Sorry Ron for your loss. Go Stoughton!"