Elmer J. Piela's Obituary
Elmer J. Piela, age 87, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 2, 2017. He was born September 12, 1930 in Lily, Wi to John and Elizabeth Piela. He served in the Army from November of 1951 to November of 1953. He was united in marriage to Eileen (Stuck) Piela on December 5, 1953 in Zion, Illinois. She passed away on November 24, 1998 in Zion, Illinois.
He worked in tool & die, worked with heavy equipment construction, and was self-employed most of his life. Before and in retirement, he worked with MAPS (Mission America Placement Services) through the AG church. He started with MAPS full-time in 1998, and before that had only worked part-time with them. Elmer spent most of his summers working at Spencer Lake in Waupaca, Wisconsin.
Elmer was united in marriage to Verla Belle (Rust) Leonhard-Piela on September 13, 2008 and continued to work with MAPS, traveling in a motor home to work in many different places. He especially loved working for the Girls Teen Challenge in Seale, Alabama. Later in life, he had to give up MAPS because of health reasons. Elmer had a hard time giving it up as he really loved all the people he met and places he went. He was an avid fisherman, loved hunting, and was very much an outdoors man. Elmer was loved by all. He is survived by his wife, Verla; three daughters, Sherry Dillon of Kansasville, WI, Suzanne (Michael) Torres of Kenosha, WI, and Cindy Horton of Jacksonville, FL; one son, Terry Piela of Muskogee, OK; nine grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; step-children, Heidi Hill of Jackson, WI, Jackie (Don) Buege of Fond du Lac, WI, and Jim (Barb) Leonhard of Sanford, FL; five step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; an infant son; two brothers; and four sisters.
A Celebration of Elmer's Life will be on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 11 AM at First Assembly of God Church in Waupaca, WI. A visitation will be held on Thursday morning from 9:00 - 11:00 AM at the church. Military rites will follow the services at church. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.
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