Dieter Peplinski died at his home in Oak Harbor on June 7th, 2017 after a long battle with cancer. He was born in Berlin, Germany on January 1, 1943 to Kenneth and Hedwig (Zowodny) Peplinski.The family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in the summer of 1955 where Dieter completed his High School education. After high school Dieter joined the United States Navy in 1961. The military brought him to Lemoore, CA where, at a dance, he met and fell in love with his wife-to-be Janice Lucille Alves.

Dieter and Janice were married on April 23, 1965 and spent the next 30 of their 44 years traveling the world while serving our great country. In addition to Dieter serving four tours in the Vietnam conflict, they lived in San Diego, CA., Virginia Beach, VA, Sicily, Italy, Corpus Christi, TX., and Oak Harbor, WA. During their travels they were blessed with a loving family, raising three sons Kenneth, Christopher, and Anthony.

Dieter retired from the U.S. Navy as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 1991 after honorably serving for 30 years. During his distinguished years of service Dieter received multiple awards and commendations from the U. S. Navy including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service , Navy Unit Commendation, 4 Good Conduct , Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy & Marine Core Overseas Service Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary , and the Vietnam Humanitarian Service Medal . He truly had a heart for the military and country. After retirement, he spent seven years in Peyton, Colorado caring for his elderly parents before returning to Oak Harbor in 2004 where he lived out the rest of his days.

Dieter was a spirited soul with a passion for family, constantly opening his home to many and sharing his words of wisdom to all that were blessed to sit with him. His favorite pastime was working with his hands in the garden. He had a knack for transforming yards, flaunting the greenest lawn and the brightest of blooms. He could make prime rib as good as any restaurant and knew how to pick the perfect ham. For Dieter, anything worth doing was worth doing right.

Dieter was preceded in death by the love of his life, Janice and survived by their three sons Kenneth J. Peplinski, Christopher A Peplinski, Anthony J. Peplinski and wife Amy, all living in Oak Harbor. Also surviving are grandchildren: Brett Fanslow, Joshua Fanslow, Ryan Santiago, Nicholas Peplinski, Andrew, Brook and Lydia Peplinski; three great-grandchildren: Teagan, Andin and Alondra and one sister Monica Ray from California.

A viewing for Dieter will be held on Friday, June 16, 2017 from 2-5 pm at Wallin Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday the June 17, 10am at St Augustine Catholic Church with Rev Paul Pluth, JCL as celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery.

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