Doreen Effie (Dvorak) Peppel was born November 28, 1928 in the family living quarters of the building that also housed The Bonesteel (SD) Enterprise, a weekly newspaper operated by her parents, Joseph E. and Gertrude H. (Steimer) Dvorak. She died July 28, 2006 at the Burke, SD Community Memorial Hospital at the age of 77 years and 8 months. Doreen attended the Bonesteel Public Schools through her sophomore year and then passed a battery of exams to qualify for a special program for gifted students at the University of Chicago. After two years in Chicago, she completed one year at South Dakota State in Brookings.

September 13, 1947, Doreen and Edward G. Peppel were married at Naper, NE and moved to a ranch north of town. There, they lived their entire adult lives, raising cattle, along with their two sons. Besides ranching, all three men taught at various high schools in the area, and in recent years, Doreen, too, enjoyed substitute teaching. An avid fan of the many activities of her husband, sons, and grandchildren, Doreen rarely missed any of their athletic events or performances.

As a youngster, Doreen began helping with the newspaper in Bonesteel, and in her parents later years, she played an increasing role, besides working at the ranch. Whenever her parents went on vacation, she was in charge of the paper.

Even before entering school, Doreen began performing in musical programstap dancing and singing (often with her younger brother) and playing the piano. She played the trumpet and saxophone in the school band and later gave piano lessons. For a time, she played the piano in church. Fishing with family members and with Ted and Effie French (after whom she was named), swimming, snow and water skiing, bowling, gardening, and her dog, Gator, also were among Doreens many interests. Doreen loved to travel, and during her lifetime, she traveled with family and friends to nearly every state in the US (including the Hawaiian Islands), to several Canadian provinces, to several Mexican states, and to islands in the Caribbean.

This past April, Doreen received her 50-year pin from the Order of the Eastern Star, in which she served in every station through Worthy Matron. An exceptionally caring person, she assumed principal responsibility for managing the affairs of her mother and aunt while they were in nursing homes.

Doreen is survived by one brother, Eldon J. Dvorak of Fountain Valley, CA; two sons, Edward J. Peppel (and wife, Kathy) of Butte, NE and William D. Peppel (and wife, Karen) of Naper; five grandchildrenLisa Rodman (and husband, Michael) of Gillette, WY, Jay Peppel of Winner, SD, Mark Peppel (and wife, Bria) of Pierre, SD, Kurt Peppel (and wife, Becky) of Sioux Falls, SD, and Kara Peppel of Naperand two great grandchildren, Samantha Peppel and Cale Meiners. Preceding Doreen in death were her parents, Joseph E. and Gertrude H. (Steimer) Dvorak and her husband, Edward G. Peppel.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 10:00 AM at the United Church of Christ in Naper, NE. Burial will be in the Knollcrest Cemetery, Naper. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 8 PM, with a 6 PM prayer service, at Clausen Funeral Home.