328 W. Chestnut Freeport, Ill.
A tragic accident on May 15, 1973, took the life of the youngest
steam engineer in the Stephenson County Antique Engine Club. Mark
Thomas Pieper, 15, was killed when the farm tractor he was
operating overturned. Although only 15, he owned in equal
partnership with his father Ron Pieper, myself, and my father Louis
Althoff, two steam engines. He was a very competent and careful
engineer. He was better at ‘lining up’ an engine in the
belt than a lot of engineers many times his age. He had a nice soft
touch on the throttle, which showed when he competed in a ‘slow
race’. Many show-goers will remember him operating his 18 HP
Advance-Rumely at the Freeport show and George Hedtke’s show at
Kings. Mark was a quiet but friendly boy who was very eager to
learn and was always willing to listen to good advice. I can find
no words to convey my personal feeling of loss and deep sorrow and
I, along with all the members of our club, wish to express our
sincere sympahy to his family.
engineer. He was better at ‘lining up’ an engine in the
belt than a lot of engineers many times his age. He had a nice soft
touch on the throttle, which showed when he competed in a ‘slow
race’. Many show-goers will remember him operating his 18 HP
Advance-Rumely at the Freeport show and George Hedtke’s show at
Kings. Mark was a quiet but friendly boy who was very eager to
learn and was always willing to listen to good advice. I can find
no words to convey my personal feeling of loss and deep sorrow and
I, along with all the members of our club, wish to express our
sincere sympahy to his family.
