John E. Piper, 72, of Sumner, Illinois passed away Monday, December 25, 2017 at his residence. He was born April 19, 1945 in Sumner, Illinois, the son of Cecil Roy and Dorothy Mae (Acton) Piper. He married JoAnn Gillum on June 4, 1966 and she survives.
John worked for AT&T for 37 years and after retirement, he worked at the Lawrence County Country Club. He was a member of the Whitehouse Christian Church, where he served as elder. Other memberships included the East Richland Coon Hunters Association and the Lawrence County Country Club. He enjoyed antiquing, woodworking, golfing, hunting, fishing, and spending time with family.
Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Robert Piper and Ron Piper; and one sister, Carol Ann Heath.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnn; one son, Craig Piper and wife, Mandi, of Greenfield, Indiana; two daughters, Tammy Neville and husband, Bill, of Franklin, Indiana and Tracy Zernzach and husband, Tim, of Plainfield, Illinois; four brothers, Cecil Piper and wife, Carolyn Sue, of Olney, Illinois, Jim Piper and wife, Sue, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, David Piper and wife, Twyla, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, and Bud Piper and wife, Radonna, of Laurel, Mississippi; two sisters, Cleora Gillespie-Weger of Flat Rock, Illinois and Dorothy Laughlin of Bridgeport, Illinois; and ten grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 1:00 PM CST at the Sivert-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner, Illinois. Visitation will be Thursday from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM CST at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Sumner Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or the Whitehouse Christian Church.