Peter Piplica

Peter Piplica,89, ofLander,peacefully passed away onWednesday,November29,2017, withhisfamilyathisside.
Peter was born November 10, 1928, in the region of Lika, Croatia. His parents, Rade and Saja, had a home in Brezovac. When he was 12 years old, Ustashe soldiers moved through Yugoslavia. His grandfather, a sister, and an aunt were executed at his grandparents home in Suvaja. Shortly after, the Serbian resistance Chetniks came to Suvaja. They took all boys who were 12 and older with them for protection. Peter left his younger brother Ilija and older sister Milka that day. But during the summer of 1940, the young men and Chetniks were captured by Italian soldiers as they camped close by the Italian border. For the next five years, Peter survived in a concentration work camp in Trieste, Italy. The camp was liberated by British soldiers at the end of World War II in 1945. Peter was 16.
Presuming none of his family survived the war, Peter relocated to England with the help of Allied refugee relief workers. He learned the construction trade under the British Government. There he met and married Pamela Kingham. They had two daughters while in England before immigrating to the United States aboard the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner in 1956. His uncle George Pilich in Lander sponsored this trip. Two more children were born in Lander. He built his first home in 1958, raised his four children there, and lived in the same home all of his life.
Peter worked for several contractors throughout his career, retiring from Brasel and Sims Construction in 1992. After his retirement he stayed busy building homes for his children and doing odd jobs until the age of 80.
Peter was known for his honesty, quality carpentry skills and built many buildings in the community.He enjoyed gardening and shared his bounty with his family and friends.He also enjoyed taking cruise vacations with his family. He was an avid spectator at his childrens, grandchildrens, and great grandchildrens events. He smiled the biggest when he held his great-grandchildren in his arms.
He will be lovingly remembered by three of his children, Lynette (Bill) Fleak, Susan (Jerry) Van Riper, and George (Susie) Piplica, and son-in-law Robert Clark. He will also be fondly remembered by his nine grandchildren Lynette (Robert) Trowbridge, Terrayne (Brandon) Kintzler, Austin (Tabitha) Fleak, Andre Fleak, Cori (Curtis) Cassida, Tyler (Beth) Van Riper, Peter W. Piplica, Tiffany (Sam) Hartpence, Spencer (Gabriela) Piplica, and thirteen great grandchildren, Tiffani and Hayli Trowbridge, Asher and Adilyn Kintzler, Madison and Aaron Fleak, Kennedy and Kambrie Cassida, Alden, Chase and Mara Hartpence, and Santiago and Salvador Piplica. He was preceded in death by his daughter Anka Clark and grandson Aaron Fleak.
Funeral serviceswillbe held in Lander at theChapelof Mount Hopein HudsonsFuneral Homeon Tuesday,December 5,2017at1:00p.m.Visitation will be prior to the service at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers the family invites you to send donations to The Central Wyoming College Peter Piplica Scholarship Fund.