Ralph "Skip" L. Pilger, Jr.

Ralph “Skip” L. Pilger, Jr., 61, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013, at the Taylor Hospice House.

Skip was born October 4, 1951, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Ralph, Sr., and Aileen (Anderson) Pilger. He lived a portion of his life in Moline, Illinois. Skip graduated from Tech High in 1969 and from Grandview College in 1975. Skip worked for Principal Financial Group for 31 years, starting in 1970 while he was still in college, and then for Wells Fargo from May 2001 to the present. In 2003, he was nominated to attend a Sales and Service Conference in Maui, Hawaii.

One of Skip’s hobbies was collecting trains. His father worked for the railroad and Skip did as well, at Rock Island Railroad, in the summertime during high school and college. In 1972, he served as Secretary for one year with the Central Iowa Railroad Club which is now located at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. While living in Joliet, Illinois, he was a member of the Organ Club and served as its first President. Skip was also involved with Region XI Arabian Horse Association. He was the first Show Commissioner for Iowa from 1992 to the present. He was also the President and served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Arabian Horse Association in 1992, the 13th largest club in the United States at that time.

Skip was a man of great integrity. He had a strong work ethic and was a great mentor and listener. He treated everyone equally. Skip had a heart of gold and was very dedicated in all that he did. But above all else, he loved his family and spending time with his precious grandchildren. He LOVED being “Papa Skip” and the most important thing he wanted each and every one of them to remember was how very much he loved them and he would always be in their hearts.

Skip is survived by his wife, Jolyn Pilger; step-daughters whom he loved as his own, Julie Palek, Jamie (Ryan) Thompson, Heather (Brian) Kauzlarich, and Sarah (Jeremy) Johnston; grandchildren, Sydney and Sawyer Palek, Rylie, Ava and Anica Thompson, Lylian and Faye Kauzlarich, Landon Graves, and Sevryn Johnston; and his sister, Sandra Pilger.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2013, at Adventure Life Reformed Church, 1700 8th Street SW in Altoona.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in loving memory of Skip.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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