Del Pepper, Electrical Engineer And Advocate For The Disabled

Delmar Eugene Pepper, an electrical engineer who also mastered woodworking, photography and coping with life after a stroke, finally has "Gone Fishin' ," the title of a poem he wrote and put on the Internet.

The poem speaks in courageous yet gently funny terms of his coming death, and how he's now on to a new adventure: I've finished life's chores assigned to me So put me on a boat headed out to sea Please send along my fishing pole For I've been invited to the fishing hole

To all of those that think of me Be happy as I go out to sea If others wonder why I'm missin' Just tell um I've gone fishin'

That's how he approached many challenges, his family says. He reduced a situation to basic components, then dealt with them calmly and logically.

An East Coast woman so liked "Gone Fishin' " that she sent him an e-mail saying she had the poem read at her husband's funeral.

"Dad was a remarkable teacher," said Mr. Pepper's daughter Nanette Feeney of Burien. "He would influence without trying to influence."

"They talk of home-run hitter Mark McGwire as a modern-day hero," said his son Larry Pepper of Olympia. "But people like Del Pepper that have suffered silently and raised the bar for all of us, they are truly the modern-day heroes."

Mr. Pepper, who retrained himself to talk and walk after suffering a stroke in 1981, died Saturday (Oct. 10) of prostate cancer. He was 77.

He had always liked doing mechanical things and was brilliant at electronics, said his family. He worked for Boeing for 28 years, first as a facilities engineer, then as a manager of construction and engineering programs. His work took him from Everett to Wichita, Kan.

In the 1970s he also helped direct the state of Washington's architectural and engineering operations.

But after his stroke, he took up writing and wood-sculpting.

"He made a book of stories for his grandchildren," said his son, "and also carved beautiful wood pieces he gave to each family member."

"He had time to write poems and reflect on his life," said his daughter Kristi Savacool of Kent. "A recurring theme was his will to live and his belief that you never give up."

Mr. Pepper also was an advocate for the disabled, particularly new stroke victims. He was a founding member and past president of Capitol Area Stroke Club. He also was involved in efforts to enforce the proper use of disabled parking stalls.

Born and reared in Austin, Minn., he captained an Army tank battalion in Italy during World War II, earning a Bronze Star.

He became a master electrician in Minnesota in the late 1940s, then worked for Boeing in Seattle from 1953 to 1981, attending night classes in electrical engineering at Seattle University.

"He had a brilliant mind and never stopped learning," said his son.

Other survivors include his wife of 51 years, Juanita Pepper of Olympia; his son Mike Pepper of Twin Falls, Idaho; his daughter Kathy Humenik of Seattle; his brother, Lowell Pepper of Phoenix, Ariz.; his sister, Helen Jo Pepper of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren.

Services have been held. Donations may go to Providence SoundHomeCare & Hospice, 3706 Griffin Lane S.E., Olympia, WA 98501.