Born Dec. 1, 1921, in Walnut City, he was the son of Floyd
and Myrtle Anne Brown Peek. On April 25, 1969, he married Betty Marie
Chestnut Blaine.
He worked at John Morrell & Co., retiring in 1973. He served with the
Army 82nd Airborne during World War II. He was a life member of Walter
B. Schafer Post 775 Veterans of Foreign Wars, O.B. Nelson Post 3
American Legion and Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jimmie Peek of Red Oak and Randy
Peek of Fort Madison; two daughters, Desi Powe of Sandoval, Ill., and
Tonya Nelson of Centralia, Ill.; four stepsons, James Blaine and Larry
Blaine, both of Ottumwa, Frank Blaine of Farson and George Blaine of
Brooklyn, N.Y.; two stepdaughters, Beverly Neel of Richland and Karen
Young of Ottumwa; 36 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and two
brothers, Donald Peek of Des Moines and Ernest Peek of Ottumwa. He
was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, two sisters and
one grandson.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday at Reece
Funeral Home in Ottumwa, where the family will receive friends from 2 to
4 p.m.
The funeral for Mr. Peek will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Reece Funeral Home
with the Rev. Harold Baker officiating. Burial with military rites will
be in Ottumwa Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Walter B. Schafer Post 775 Veterans of Foreign
Wars.
(The Hawk Eye, Burlington, IA, 11 Feb 2007, Page A1 - courtesy of Tedd
Cocker) |
(courtesy of Howard Burough)
Grave marker for James O. and Betty M. Peek in the
Ottumwa Cemetery, Ottumwa (Wapello county), Iowa. The obverse
lists ten children apparently born during two marriages.
James enlisted in Ottumwa, IA on 13 January 1941 after
having served in the National Guard. Although he had a stated preference
for the Cavalry at the time, he later volunteered for parachutist duty.
Cpl Peek was wounded on 26 December 1944 in Belgium and
was awarded the Purple Heart. |
