Jason Peppers

Jason Alan Peppers, 39 forever, began his return to stardust on June 16-17, 2016. He was born in Red Oak, possibly an imaginary town as only a few people have actually been there. In 1999, he graduated from Drake University with his Bachelor’s in English and a minor in music. He also was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. In 2001, his book, “Wonderland Mirror” was published for the masses to read. He spent the next almost 10 years of his life doing as people do and riding the wave of fame or at least partying as if he was.

In 2008, Jason met and fell in love with his future, Laura. Thus began his second life. Being as they were both getting “old” they didn’t waste a second on contemplation. Their first child together was born the very next year. Then, since they loved each other so very much and rarely slept anyway, their second child together was born in 2011.

Jason did not change but a few diapers; he was terrified of breaking the babies. But he loved them, held them, read to them and, as they became real little people, he taught them to count, to read, to do math and to be great little people who will one day grow up to be our leaders. He also relearned algebra in order to get his oldest daughter all the way through high school. He spent hours and hours on homework, night after night.

The love story of Jason and Laura began in a garage. Speaking of and solving all the problems of the world until the sun shone again and the birds began their song; they talked and talked. That night she wanted to kiss him, but she didn’t. That night he knew that his life needed to change. It took some time, but he did.

Jan. 1, 2009, they had their first official date and, never being the traditional types, they waited until all of their children were born to tie the knot in April on a Friday the 13th in 2012. You most likely were not invited, but not because you weren’t important, but because Laura threw a surprise wedding in a stranger’s garage within a 24-hour period. She didn’t wear her dress and he didn’t wear his tux. Most people there were strangers. But it didn’t matter. It was never about you, reader, it was about Jason and Laura; their love superceeded all of life’s rules and regulations and social norms. An Insane Jason Peppers and Crazy Laura spent the rest of their time together in a fog of ridiculous love. Always saying “I love you” and always making a joke and always forgiving for all those stupid insignificant things that make married couples grind their teeth and bite their tongues.

He wasn’t very good at keeping house, but he was an amazing chef. Laura will need some reminders on how to grocery shop, make dinner and how to turn on the lawn mower.

Jason changed from a person with nothing to live for, to a man with a future, the day Laura said “I love you” to him for the first time. There are times now when it all seems mostly pointless, so in the words of Jason Peppers:

“But that’s just me, and that’s just life. And, seeing as none of us are getting out of this alive, I would go as far as saying that life itself is just an extremely complex death sentence. But I like to think about it like this: when you’re dead, you won’t feel any pain, you won’t have to work or do anything you don’t want to, and you won’t have to worry about dying because you’ll already be dead. The way you can go is not the real way and that, sooner or later, everything becomes irrelevant, so there’s really no good reason to spend too much time worrying about anything. Life could never happen any other way than it could happen. Life IS mostly pointless, so look for the happy endings.”

Jason was preceded in death by his grandmother Grace Neidig; his grandfather Maurice Neidig; his mother-in-law Vicki (Cary) Lundberg and George Carlin.

Jason is survived, kind of, by his wife Laura (Lundberg) Peppers; his children, Sydney, Beowulf and Katana; his parents, Claudia (Neidig) and Larry Peppers; his brothers, Justin (Slyvia) Peppers and Joshua Peppers; his nephews, Landon and Gunner; niece Tacy and, finally, the rest of the world.

Jason’s family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at Iles Funeral Homes - Dunn’s Chapel, 2121 Grand Ave., in Des Moines. Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Dunn’s Chapel followed by cremation. In lieu of peace lilies, memorials may be directed to the family.