Stephen Frederick Pieper

Stephen F. Pieper, 48, of Rochester, MN passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Rochester, MN. Steve was born May 11, 1973 in Stanford, CA to Frederick and Carol (Beutz) Pieper. Steve spent most of his childhood in Portland, OR before moving to Sioux Falls, SD, where he was a graduate of Lincoln High School where he met his future wife, Kelly Hull. Steve and Kelly were married May 31, 1997 in Sioux Falls, SD. He attended and received his nursing degree from the University of North Dakota (UND). While at UND, Steve was an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Steve and Kelly moved to Rochester, where he began his career as a nurse The Mayo Clinic and then continued his education at The Mayo School of Health Sciences. Steve received his Master's degree and became a CRNA at The Mayo Clinic in 2008. Steve had a fierce love for Kelly and his three children. He could be found cheering and supporting his kids at all their activities, was romantic and looked for creative ways to show his love. He was passionate about biking, running, and participating in triathlons. Steve also loved to cook, spend time at the lake, enjoy a fine whiskey or cold beer with friends and play with his dog, Lola. He was funny, determined, outgoing and charismatic! Steve was passionate about life and helping people, which was demonstrated through his career as well as medical mission trips to Guatemala. Steve lived life to the fullest. To quote his son, Carson: "He always gave it his all with everything he did. He loved us with all of his heart, taught us to learn from our mistakes, was always willing to hang out and have fun with us." Steve is survived by his loving wife, Kelly; children, Sierra, Carson and Zach; mother, Carol, and step-father Jim Entenman; step-sisters, Audra (Frank) Kalmbach and Tonya Entenman; brother-in-law, Rick (Genny) Hull; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rick and Glenys Hull; nieces and nephews, Riley and Sutton Hull and Eva and Griffin Kalmbach, and a host of other family and friends. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Fred Pieper. Visitation will be held 4:00-8:00 pm Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, July 1, 2021 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1212 12th Ave NW, Rochester, with Pastor Dave Berg officiating.The service will be livestreamed through the Ranfranz and Vine Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Ranfranzandvine/ Friends and family are invited to gather beginning at 1:00 pm. Fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear a mask. In lieu of gifts and flowers, a contribution can be made to either the Pieper Family Memorial Fund to benefit Steve's children at Merchants Bank of Rochester, or to the Pediatric Patients Proton Beam Research Program in Memory of Steve Pieper. Gifts can be made online: philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC, by phone 1-800-297-1185 or by mail at Mayo Clinic Department of Development at 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. In addition, a blood donor challenge in memory of Steve Pieper will be held through the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Pieper family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com