Robert Lewis Peppel was born April 26, 1934 to Wallace and Ethel (Lewis) Peppel at their home north of St. Charles, South Dakota and passed away February 25, 2021 at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, South Dakota at the age of 86 years.

He attended school in St. Charles for nine years and then three years in Bonesteel, graduating in 1952.  He entered the Navy in October of 1952 and had his basic training in San Diego, California.  He was assigned to the USS Rochester, a heavy cruiser, and spent six months in the western Pacific.  He was a signalman sending visual communications to the other ships.  He then transferred to the USS Destroyer USS Shelton.  They spent time in Manilla, Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong and Singapore and then to the Marshall Islands where they were testing atomic and hydrogen bombs.  He returned in September of 1956 and was discharged in October of 1956 with the rank of QM2 and was awarded several medals.

He began farming when he returned from his military service and on June 20, 1959 he married Frances (Lorraine) Higgins.  They had three children: Timothy Robert, Debora Kay and Kevin John.  They lived on the farm southwest of St. Charles for forty-five years.  He loved the hard work and sense of accomplishment and independence with the farming occupation.

He was a member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus, the township board for thirty years and the school board for twenty years between St. Charles and Bonesteel.  He was instrumental in school mergers of St. Charles and Bonesteel in 1969 and Bonesteel and Fairfax in 1982.  In 1975, he helped in starting the South Central Adjustment Training Center, currently known as Community Connections, and was on the board for forty-one years.  Community Connections is a nonprofit set up to provide residential and vocational services for  adults with mental and physical disabilities.

He is survived by his son, Tim (Juli) Peppel of St, Charles; granddaughter, Melissa (Cody) Vosika; great-grandchildren, Brecken and Austin of Gregory; grandson, Mitchell (Valerie) Peppel; great-grandchildren, Hadley, Mckinley, Landon, Ainsley and Kolton of Herrick; step-grandchildren, Brandon Schlaht of Rapid City and Ben (Amber) Schlaht of The Colony, TX; daughter, Debora (Keith) Heinrichs of Citrus Heights, CA; grandson, James Heinrichs of Rocklin, CA and son, Kevin Peppel of Community Connections in Winner; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Frances (Lorraine); sister, Joan (Leon) Krueger; sister, Carol (Joe) Sanchez; brother-in-law, Mervin (Helen) Higgins; brother-in-law, Max (Janet) Higgins and sister-in-law, Joyce (Howard) Stahlecker.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 5 ^th , 2021 at 10:30AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bonesteel, SD. Burial will follow in the Rosebud Cemetery in Bonesteel, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 4 ^th , 2021 from 5-7PM with a 7PM vigil service all at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bonesteel, SD.