Joseph H. Peeples, 82, of Hamlet, Indiana, passed away Monday, October 23rd, 2023 at NorthWest Health-La Porte after a courageous battle against cancer.
He was born June 17th, 1941 in La Porte, Indiana, the son of John Russell Peeples and Lois (Moyer) Peeples.
On June 1st, 1968, at the Tracy Church in Hamlet, Indiana, Joseph married the love of his life, Wanda Tipton.
Joseph was a lifelong resident of Union Township. After high school graduation, he went on to earn his Bachelor's degree from Manchester College and his Master's in Education from Ball State University. He started his teaching career at Union Township High School, his alma mater. After school consolidation, he transferred to LaPorte Community Schools, first teaching at the 7th grade school and then Boston Middle School. He was a PE, Biology, and Health teacher, and throughout his teaching career, he also coached basketball and track. He retired from teaching in 1997. In addition to teaching, he farmed his own land for several years. Joseph was a member of Tracy Church, Kingsbury Masonic Lodge, and the Scottish Rite. He enjoyed the great outdoors and loved hunting, fishing, gardening, trapping and farming. He was very proud of his hunting dogs, and owned dogs from the time he was a young boy to the last year of his life. After retirement from teaching, Joseph continued to help others in the farming community with various tasks. You could often see him driving his red truck or Gator along the country roads as he inspected the fields. It was not uncommon for him to stop and share a cup of coffee or bite to eat with neighbors and friends to discuss “local events”. Joseph and his wife always had a huge garden and he loved delivering the fresh produce and flowers, especially watermelons, to family and friends in the local community.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Wanda; daughter, Becky (Kirby) Bilsland of Greenville, IN; son, John (Leanne) Peeples of Columbus, IN; brother, Dick (Yvonne) Peeples of La Porte, IN; sister, June (Bruce) Freet of Mt. Vernon, WA; brother-in-law, Max Tipton of Carmel, IN; sister-in-law, Sue Tipton of Brazil, IN; and four grandchildren, Avery Bilsland, Brady Bilsland, Jake Peeples and Reece Peeples
Joseph was preceded in death by his parents; infant sons, Terry and David; brother, Thomas Peeples, Sr and brother-in-law, Jerry Tipton.
Visitation will take place Saturday, November, 11th, 2023 at Tracy Church in Hamlet, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Kay Bond officiating. Burial will follow at the Kingsbury Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 602 Maple Ave., LaPorte, IN.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tracy Church, 1702 US-35, Hamlet, IN 46532.
Online condolences may be made at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.
