Arthur H. Peckham

Arthur H. Peckham, 93, died Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Vitas Hospice Center from complications following a stroke. He leaves his wife of 69 years, Olene Flatgard Peckham; his daughter Pamela Marshall; his son; Lt. Col. ret. Brian Peckham; his grandchildren, Dr. Dawn Roy Westfall, Mark Thompson, Jennifer Tomm Auston, Rachael Peckham, Jason Niki Peckham, Ryan Samantha Peckham, 15 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He also had many close nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Born on the family farm near Gaza, Iowa, the son of David and Pearl DeWees Peckham, Art attended school in Gaza, graduating in 1939. He enjoyed sports and played on the high school basketball team. At the onset of World War II, Art enlisted and served in the United States Army Air Corps in India and Burma as an airplane mechanic. On leave in 1945, he married his longtime sweetheart, Olene, in her family's front sitting room. Soon after their honeymoon on Lake Okaboji, the war ended, and Art began his long career in trucking with Hawkeye Express in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also worked for Borden Ice Cream, Novak LP Gas, and Great Plains before retiring. He truly enjoyed driving trucks, setting up and servicing LP systems, and having a cup of coffee with his customers. Art and Olene participated in a many activities over the years including square dancing, playing cards, camping, hiking, and bowling. They particularly enjoyed camping with family and friends and took many trips to national parks all over the country. At age 80, they took the "trip of their lifetime" by cruising the Alaskan peninsula and touring Denali National Park. Art was also very involved in his Lutheran churches over the years serving in a variety of roles. He was currently a member of St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sugar Land, TX. After retirement, Art and Olene spent time in Mechanicsville and Solon, IA, Apache Junction, AZ, Fredericksburg, TX, and, Sugar Land, TX. In his later years, Art's greatest joys came from working in his workshop for hours, spending time on the patio with Olene, and visiting with his family and friends. He was known for his ability to fix anything with his extensive tool collection. He loved to attend the activities of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and was extremely proud of their achievements. He was loved dearly by all of them and will be greatly missed. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1123 Burney Rd. Sugar Land, TX 77498. Attendees are invited to wear blue, Art's favorite color. Memorials may be sent to St. Martin's. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, doctors, and caregivers at Sugar Land Methodist Hospital and Vitas Hospice House for the exemplary care given to Art during his illness.

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Arthur H. Peckham

August 20, 1921 - December 12, 2014