Michael Dee Pieper

Michael was born February 9, 1952, to Dee Meyers and Norma Bowen Pieper in Salt Lake. He was the oldest of 11 children. At a young age, he was able to speak well and very fluently. This impressed the neighborhood children with his diction and enunciation which bolstered his confidence. He is dearly loved by his parents and siblings. He was a wonderful older brother, always calling his siblings 'little brother' or 'little sister'.

He loved the scouting program and learned many valuable leadership skills. He served on the camp staff at Little Lemhi and there he befriended a Japanese scout. He earned his Eagle Scout award and was able to go with his father to the Scouting National Jamboree; he also loved his experience at Philmont Scout Ranch located in New Mexico. He was on the football team until an ankle injury sidelined him. He also loved being on the wrestling team. He had a little brown Volkswagen and was dared to drive it into the school, which he did, and was soon expelled for doing so. He graduated from Snake River High School in 1971 which is located near Blackfoot, Idaho. He had good enough grades and test scores to be offered a college scholarship to continue his learning. After graduation, he was called to serve a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Johannesburg, South Africa. His mission president said that Mike learned the Afrikaans language faster than any other missionary. He attended Ricks College where he met and married Kaye Dalley. They have 5 fantastic children. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1975 and returned to Idaho in 1983 to help with running the family farm. He then returned to Utah in 1986. He later married Tammy LeMmon Pieper in 2005.

Michael loved people. He was always reaching out to others and would gravitate to helping the downtrodden or overlooked. He was happiest when he was serving others. He would make time to visit with others and enjoyed his many relationships with friends and family. That is probably why his favorite song was "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today".

Michael had a love of God. He knew much was expected of him. He enjoyed serving in many different capacities for his church (bishopric counselor, scoutmaster, chorister, choir member, etc). One of his most cherished assignments was serving as an ordinance worker in the temple, which he did quite regularly in his later years.

Michael had many talents and passions. He enjoyed many camping trips to Yellowstone and the Pacific Northwest with his family. He was quick to learn and enjoyed engaging in conversation. He was an avid reader and loved books and was known to finish a book in one night. As a child, he would hide with a lamp under a blanket and read. One night he fell asleep and burned the book and blanket before awakening. His voracious reading and good memory allowed him to talk to almost everyone since he was so knowledgeable on several subjects. He appreciated music and played many different instruments as well as sang. He picked up a French Horn for the first time and within minutes he was producing excellent sound and reading the music. He could play by ear and would often peck out tunes that he enjoyed. He even played in a rock band for a couple of years. He enjoyed gardening and harvesting fresh produce to share with his neighbors and friends. He almost always had a little dog around for companionship and enjoyed animals.

Michael’s greatest love and legacy was his family. He rarely missed his siblings' events and sat through many of his children’s volleyball, softball, wrestling, and football games. He is survived by his wife, Tammy, five children; Ross (Eden) Pieper of Afton, Wyoming, Wendy (Brandon) Woolf of Clinton, Utah, Karyn (Bryan) Byington of Roy, Utah, Russell (Angie) Pieper of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Katie (Kevin) Tomlin of Syracuse, Utah; 16 Grandchildren; his Mother, Norma B. Pieper, and his nine siblings; Deanne (Alan) Fielding, Richard (Lajean) Pieper, Paul (Lisa) Pieper, Laurie (Steve) Tueller, Jeanie (Gary) Andelin, Robert (Colleen) Pieper, Charles (Wendy) Pieper, Linda (Tim) Heaton, and Fredrick (Mayree) Pieper. He was preceded in death by his Father, Dee Meyers Pieper, and brother Dee Myers Pieper Jr.

Please join us as we honor Michael at his funeral.

An evening viewing will be held on Friday, July 7, 2023, from 6–8 pm at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S. Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84106.

On Saturday July 8, there will be a morning viewing at 11:00 am prior to the funeral services which start at 12:00 Noon at the Winder 11th Ward: 921 East 3825 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 84106.

For those who cannot attend in person, please use this Zoom link:https://zoom.us/j/92148135938?pwd=T0JXYWwxSlFXS2NUU1JDQUNaTEJEQT09