Lebanon County PA Archives Obituaries.....Peiffer, Ernest H., Sr. May 3, 2012
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  Sharon S. M. shabodeho@aol.com May 14, 2012, 10:11 pm
  
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on May 6, 2012 
  Ernest H. Peiffer Sr. 
  
  MILLSTADT, IL Ernest H. Peiffer Sr., 88, died peacefully in his bed on 
  Thursday morning, May 3, 2012, and this warrior is now flying towards 
  Heaven "coming in on a wing and a prayer." Ernie, the only son of John and 
  Edna, nee Bean, Peiffer was born May 19, 1923, in Avon, Pa. He was preceded in 
  death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Christine, nee Dillard, Peiffer; a son, 
  Joseph Peiffer; his parents; parents-in-law, John and Jane Dillard; sisters, 
  Martha (David) Wile and Christine (Wayne) Light; and brothers-in-law, Jim 
  Wike, Norris Penry and Wm. Edward Dillard. Surviving are his son, Ernest H. 
  (Jane) Peiffer, Jr.; daughter, Ernestine "Sis" Peiffer Briley; a very special 
  son-in-law, Glen Briley; sister, Irene Wike; sisters-in-law, Beulah (Bob) 
  Elder, Emma Dillard, and JoAnn Feegle; five grandchildren, Sherry (Ronnie) 
  Gravot, Adam (Shannon) Peiffer, John (Michele) Briley, Ernest Peiffer, III, 
  and Matthew (Anni) Peiffer; great-grandchildren, Nicholas Gravot, Devon 
  Gravot, Brogan Gravot, Dylan Peiffer, Elijah Peiffer, Luke Peiffer, Levi 
  Peiffer, Connor Briley, and McKenna Briley; many loving nieces and nephews; 
  and dear friends, Nancy Peiffer and Freeman Hartmann. After graduation from 
  Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Ernie could see that war was inevitable and 
  enlisted in the Army Air Corps. With the outbreak of WWII, he was stationed in 
  England, and flew bombing missions over Germany as a waist gunner on a B-17, 
  the "Heavenly Body." The Heavenly Body was shot down on the 25th and final 
  mission, and Ernie was imprisoned for 14 months in a German Stalag. The German 
  commander of the concentration camp could see the end of the war coming and 
  set his prisoners on a march. Ernie was a survivor of a two-month long 
  liberation march during one of Germany's harshest winters. After his 
  discharge, Ernie came to East St. Louis, Ill., to work for the railroad. He 
  met his loving wife, Christine Dillard, at the Nazarene Church and they were 
  married on May 23, 1947, at the home of Christine's parents, John and Jane 
  Dillard in East St. Louis, Ill. Ernie and Christine continued to attend the 
  Nazerene Church through their entire marriage. Ernie retired from the Terminal 
  Railroad, East St. Louis, Ill., after close to 40 years. He worked hard and 
  played hard. He had a passion for hunting, and at one time owned 160 acres of 
  hunting land in Canada and 80 acres in Missouri. He also enjoyed fishing, 
  particularly on the Osage River, when he had a clubhouse in Missouri. Ernie 
  played softball and basketball for the church league and watched all sports on 
  TV and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. He was a member of 
  several organizations, a few of which were the Masonic Lodge #24, Belleville, 
  Ill., Ainad Shrine, East St. Louis, Ill., Scottish Rite, Belleville, Ill., VFW 
  7980, Millstadt, Ill., American EX-POW Organization and the 390th Bomb 
  Squadron Veteran's Organization. For I am now ready to be offered, and the 
  time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished 
  my course, I have kept the faith: (11 Timothy 4:6-7) Friends may call from 4 
  to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, 
  Ill. A Masonic Service will be held the night of the visitation at 7 p.m. 
  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 7, 2012, at Lake View 
  Funeral Home with Pastor Russel Brewer officiating. Interment will be held 
  with military honors in Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill. 
   
  Published in Lebanon Daily News on May 6, 2012 
   
  
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