Jay Peiffer

Jay Patrick Peiffer, of South English, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, September 1, 2022, in Iowa City after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jay was born in Ottumwa, Iowa on May 22, 1954, to Richard and Myra (Appleget) Peiffer. He was the second of seven children, and the only boy. He grew up on his family’s farm outside of Harper. Jay attended Keota High School, where he graduated in 1972. After briefly attending Iowa State University, Jay returned home and proudly took over his family’s farm for over 40 years. Jay married Connie Jo Dennis on February 24, 1979, in North English, and they lived on an acreage, where they raised their two children, Josie and Joel.

In addition to farming, Jay has been employed at W.C. Gretter & Sons in Harper, spent twenty-six years at the Keokuk County Natural Resource Conservation Service in Sigourney, was a bus driver for Keota Schools and drove semis at Sieren Pork, Ltd.

Jay was a hard worker, honest and caring, and loved to visit with everyone. Over the years, he was active as a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus in Harper, S-K Cobra Club and served on many boards, including: the Holy Trinity Cemetery, Keokuk County Conservation Service and Keokuk County Farm Bureau. He loved his COR family and he and Connie were involved in the activity for over 10 years. One of his proudest moments was being recognized as a Century Farm at the Iowa State Fair in 2019.

Jay was the proud grandfather of four little girls and was beyond thrilled to welcome his first grandson this December. His grandchildren were the light of his life and they had him wrapped around their fingers. He always wanted to be the one to give them their first taste of ice cream, and he usually succeeded.

Jay is survived by his wife of 43 years, Connie; two children – Josie (Ross) Schoofs of Ankeny and Joel (Lindsay) Peiffer of Johnston, four granddaughters – Genevieve, Alexandria and Vivienne Schoofs and Bianca Peiffer. His mother, Myra; sisters Susan (Allen) Fry-Fredericksen, Meri (Jeff) Peterson, Lisa (Chris) Cowan and Jayne (Larry) Orris; brothers-in-law Bill Strawn and Calvin Genkinger; and many nieces and nephews.

Jay was preceded in death by his father, Richard; his sisters, Karen Strawn and Ann Genkinger; his nephew, Willis Strawn and niece Karie Lynn Grove.

Memorial mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at Holy Trinity Parish - St. Mary Catholic Church in Keota, with Rev. Robert Lathrop presiding.  Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemeteries - St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Harper.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 5, 2022, at the church, where there will be a vigil service at 3:30 p.m.

A general memorial fund has been established.   Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Jay and his family.  Tributes may be made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.