Junior JD Piar, 86, of Highway M-35, Negaunee Township, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday morning, July 19, 2017 with Kelly, Heidi, and Betty by his side and under the care of hospice in Negaunee Township, Michigan.
JD was born December 22, 1930 in West Branch, Lower Michigan to Luella (Preston) and George Piar, Jr. He enlisted in the Army in December 1951, serving during the Korean War as an MP in Frankfort Germany until January 1953. JD met Frances Mae Moore in West Branch and they married July 25, 1953. After marrying, JD owned and drove dump trucks for 14 years, including hauling dirt for building the roads leading to the Mackinaw Bridge. After moving to Marquette County in 1963, JD and Frances started acquiring paving equipment and established Custom Asphalt Paving in 1965 which they owned and operated as a team for 25 years until retiring in 1990.
Mr. Piar was strong in faith and was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Marquette. He was a member of the Peninsula Pathfinders Snowmobile Club and made snowmobile trips across the country from the U.P. to Yellowstone in 1972 and from the U.P. to Maine in 1973. JD was a charter member of the Hiawathaland Snowmobile Club and was a long time member, serving many years as President and Trail Boss. JD was a lifetime member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association and a member of the WBCCI Airstream Club, Leader Tractor Club, UP Gas & Engine Club, and VFW Post 3165 Negaunee, MI. JD, Frances, and Kelly took an extended trip from the U.P. to Alaska on their Gold Wing motorcyles in 1990, including 200 miles of gravel road, camping along the way. JD and Frances later traveled to the Panama Canal with the Airstream Club. He loved to travel, snowmobile, motorcycle, and camp across country with both his late wife and son, Kelly. JD never liked to travel the same road twice and loved to create his own adventures.
Surviving are his son, Kelly Alan Piar and his wife Heidi of Chicago; 2 grandchildren: Madison Alena and JD Evan Piar and their mother, Amy Piar; 3 step-grandchildren: Lexi, Sabrina and Gabbi Seaman; his brother Douglas (Linda) Piar; several nieces and nephews; and companion Betty Kinnunen. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Elaine Piar; a brother, Eugene Piar; his wife Frances on April 24, 2015 and their daughter, DeanAnn Piar on December 7, 1971.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday, July 24th at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marquette with Rev. DJ Thomsen officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends from 10:30 am until the time of services at 12:00 pm at the church on Monday, and also at a luncheon in the church hall following the service. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm pm on Wednesday, July 26th at the Brookside Cemetery in West Branch, MI.

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