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Obituary for John Benjamin Peper
John Benjamin Peper born September 7, 1932 died peacefully on August 23, 2021 at the age of 88. John, born in Orlando, Florida, was the son of Charles J. and Florence C. (Wiley) Peper.
John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Lauretta Peper. John was a dedicated father to his three sons, John (Joyce) Peper, Mark (Erin) Peper, Graham (Trish) Peper, caring grandfather to seven grandchildren, Jeremy Peper, Joshua Peper, Taylor Peper, Hayden Peper, Austin Peper, Dylan Peper, Alexandra Peper and five great grandchildren, Gus Peper, Wolfgang Peper, Vivienne Peper, Walker Peper, and Ember Peper, and devoted brother to his sister Mildred Martin.
John served in the United States Navy, 1955-1959, 1961-1964. He held a BA from Baylor University (1955), M.Ed. from Temple University, 1966, and an D.Ed. from Temple University (1969). He was a passionate teacher, school administrator and professor. He was a teacher of English and journalism at Groveland High School (Florida) 1959-1961, a teacher at Cherry Hill (New Jersey) High School, 1964-1966, the Executive Director of the School District of Philadelphia, 1968-1972, an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1972-1973, an assistant superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, 1973-1977. These experiences lead him to the Superintendent of Anchorage School District, 1977-1981, and then to the Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (Colorado), 1981-1991. He lead Jefferson County Public School District during a time of great growth, and the decade he served as Superintendent was the longest for any Jefferson County Superintendent up until that time. He became a Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP), where he started a doctoral program in public school administration.
In retirement he loved traveling, fishing, golfing and researching his family’s ancestry. He was an active member of the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church. As a devoted and loving husband, he provided full time care for Lauretta when she became ill. John will be remembered by his family and friends for his love, loyalty, honesty and integrity in everything he did.
Services will be held on September 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at Fort Logan Cemetery, 3698 S. Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO, 80235. A reception will immediately follow at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, 10150 E. Belleview Ave, Englewood, CO 80111.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: World Outreach: In Care of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church of Greenwood Village, CO.
