Obituary: William G. Peepe (Aug. 11, 1916 - Aug. 9, 2009)

William G. Peepe passed away on August 9, 2009, in Gasquet. He was born on August 11, 1916, in Crescent City. A life-long resident of Del Norte County, he resided in Crescent City for many years and resided in Gasquet for the past 20 years. Bill attended local schools and graduated from high school in 1936.

He is considered a Navy veteran. As a civilian, he went to work for Morris-Knudsen in 1941 on Wake Island to build military naval bases. He was trying to save enough money to attend San Francisco State University. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese bombed Wake Island. Bill and the other civilians working for Morris-Knudsen stood and fought alongside the military that were stationed on Wake Island to stave off the attack by the nation of Japan. On December 23, 1941, the ones left on the island, civilians and military alike, were captured by the Japanese. From Wake Island, Bill was sent to Shanghai, China, for 18 months where he “worked in the fields” digging holes then covering them up again only to dig up the hole he had just filled. From Shanghai he was then transferred to Kawaski, Japan, for about 22 months where he labored in the steel mills. He was in Sendai, Japan, working in the ore mines when he learned that the war was over. In all, Bill was a prisoner of war for 44 months. Finally, in the late 1970s the civilians were recognized for their bravery by the U.S. government as defenders of Wake Island and were given military status.

Bill married another life- long resident, Ketze Kekry, on August 30, 1947, until her passing on November 30, 1987. They had met as neighbors when children and met up after the war. They have three children: Chris, Saffett and Polly. He was married to Julia Davidson until her passing on March 14, 1993. Bill then married Eleanor White on February 19, 1995.

Bill and his childhood friend, Thomas F. “Spud” Mc­­Nam­ara, formed Mc­Nam­­ara and Peepe Lumber Company in 1946 until they closed their doors in 1982. They had employed a lot of people from the community. For a brief time in the 1960s and 1970s, they had built lumber mills in Brazil and Nicaragua.

Bill was elected to the Crescent City Council on April 13, 1954. He was mayor of Crescent City from April 19, 1960, until he resigned on August 31, 1968. Bill was known to get things done and was mayor at the time when the tsunami hit in March of 1964. As mayor and councilman, Bill was credited with the following: substantial completion of the street paving and street improvement program, which included sidewalk, curb and gutter installations; completion and expansion of a modern and efficient water supply and distribution system; consolidation and establish-ment of more efficient procedures for assessment and collection of city taxes; development and expansion of parks and recreation facilities; initiation, development and the completion of Fred Endert Municipal Swimming Pool; improvement and development of the beachfront area; expansion and improvement of the city’s sewer and drainage program; substantial completion of a modern and improved street lighting program; and finally, he spearheaded the most successful urban renewal program in the United States, resulting in the expenditure of approximately $6 million of federal and state funds for complete development and reconstruction of the major business section of Crescent City following the tragic destruction of the city by the tidal waves caused by the Alaskan earthquake in 1964. He was made honorary mayor for life for his distinguished service to the city. On August 23, 2006, he was honored with the distinction of William Peepe Day in Crescent City by the Crescent City Council.

Bill was also a volunteer fireman with the Crescent City Fire Department from 1954 to 1968.

In later years, he loved to put jigsaw puzzles together, do his daily jumble grams in the newspaper, go for his daily walk, play solitaire or free cell on his computer, play a game or two of pinochle when he could, and be with his family. He was great at building things or fixing and doing repairs around the house. Bill was the best handyman. He is also known for his generosity to people he never met and to those he cared about. Bill also loved to travel and during his lifetime was able to travel all over the United States as well as make it to six of the seven continents. He traveled with Ed Fraser to all capitals of every country in South America during his traveling years.

Bill is a charter member of Elks and served as its exalted ruler in 1956. At this time, his wife Ketze was president of the Emblem Club. They were the first husband-wife team to hold office at the same time. Where the current Elks building stands, Bill donated the lumber and his construction skills. He was also a charter member of the Rotary Club for many years, starting in 1953.

Bill is survived by his wife, Eleanor; three children, Chris Peepe and his wife, Suzanne of Crescent City; Saffett Brackmann of San Jose; and Polly McNamer and her husband Ray of Crescent City; grandchildren, Amy Peepe of Santa Rosa; Pam Wilder and her husband, George of Crescent City; Ryan Peepe and his wife Kari of Santa Rosa; and Ashley Brack­mann of San Jose; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Wilder of Crescent City and Scarlett Peepe of Santa Rosa; his brother, Nick Mageloff and his wife, Joan of Hayward, Calif.; step-children, Larry White and his wife, Sheryl of Washougal, Wash., and Marlene White of Crescent City and numerous other relatives.

Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Ketze Peepe in November 1987 and his second wife, Julia Davidson in March 1993.

Visitation will be at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel on Friday, August 14, from 9-5 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at Wier’s Mortuary Chapel on Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. and interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military services.

Celebration of Life services will follow immediately after the services at the Elks Lodge, 359 H Street, Crescent City.

In lieu of flowers, please make your donations to the Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. #1689, PO Box 596, Crescent City, CA 95531 or the Fred Endert Municipal Swim-ming Pool Renovation Fund, 1000 Play Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 or to one’s favorite charity.

It will be hard to imagine our Father not being around anymore. We were blessed to have him as long as we did. We will forever miss his love and his sense of humor. His loyalty to his country as well as his beloved Del Norte County was immense.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wier’s Mortuary Chapel of Crescent City.