Donald Pepoon

DONALD WILLARD PEPOON Donald Willard Pepoon, 86, longtime resident of Paola, died Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Louisburg Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center from complications of Alzheimer"s. He was born on May 29, 1928 in Monrovia, California, the son of Joseph and Ida (Higginson) Pepoon. As a young boy, he rode the old "Red Cars" to downtown Los Angeles and the beaches at Santa Monica. In 1933, he, his, parent, and his older sister Janet moved to Western Kansas, living on farms first in Lakin and later in Deerfield. After graduating from Lakin Rural High school in 1946, Don attended Kansas State University and earned a degree in Civil Engineering in 1950. While working for Black and Veatch in Kansas City, he met his future wife, Marianne Metzger, who lived in the same apartment building on the Plaza. As Don later liked to say, "I never proposed to her. After dating for a month, I asked her when could I give her a ring, and she said "anytime."" They were joined in marriage on July 23, 1952 at the Christian Church on the Plaza. Just prior to this, Don was called up for military duty in the Army, having been in ROTC in school. In Fort Bliss, Texas, Don reported to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School. Don was assigned to help guard the Panama Canal Zone during the Korean War, a post he held until February, 1954. Marianne joined him there, where she gave birth to their first son, Michael. After being honorably discharged, Don worked again with Black and Veatch before moving to Paola to work for Cornelius Constructions. By 1960, Don decided that he wanted to work for himself and founded Triangle Construction Co., Inc. with the backing of Max Foote and Ted McIntire. Over the next several decades, Triangle built many commercial buildings in Miami County and the surrounding area. Included in these projects were numerous banks, Lakemary Center, Sunflower Elementary, and reconstruction of the historic frontier fort at Fort Scott, Kansas. After selling the business and retiring in 1988, Don and Marianne traveled and indulged their love of golf, having been members of the Paola Country Club since 1959. Don was active in the Presbyterian Church of Paola and also helped spearhead the drive to save the auditorium at Ursuline Academy from demolition, transforming it into the Paola Community Center. Another passion became genealogy. Having grown up knowing of no other Pepoons outside of his immediate family, Don tracked down dozens around the country and wrote several books detailing the family history. The first-ever Pepoon family reunion was held in Warren, Illinois in June, 2000 with over forty Pepoons present. Don lost the love of his life on April 2, 2006 after fifty-four years of marriage. He is survived by son William and daughter-in-law Fran Pepoon of Roseville, California; son Michael and daughter-in-law Sonja of Wichita, Kansas, grandsons Donald and Joseph Pepoon, granddaughter Alexandra McCardy and her husband Grant, currently doing missionary work in India, and step-granddaughters Hannah and Bethany Chegwidden; and son Stephen Pepoon and daughter-in-law Mary Stephenson of Louisburg, Kansas, step-granddaughter Katie Casey and husband Eli of Spring Hill, Kansas, their children Micah and Kenzie, step-grandson Nicholas Hosack and wife Caitlin of Louisburg, Kansas. Per his wish, Don"s remains will be cremated and interred next to Marianne"s at Paola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Paola Community Center or the First Presbyterian Church of Paola. To share a memory of Donald or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above. First Presbyterian Church, 110 E. Peoria St., Paola, KS Service: Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 11:00 AM Visitation: No Visitation