John
William Paeplow, DVM passed away peacefully at Woodbridge
Rehabilitation and Nursing in Berlin, Vt., on Friday, February 21,
2025.
John
was born on February 5, 1941, to William and Jane (Cummings) Paeplow
in Buffalo, N.Y. He spent his childhood in Snyder, N.Y. He enjoyed
playing sports with friends and neighbors, fishing with his father,
and family vacations in the Zoar Valley.
His
fondest memories were of spending parts of his summers with his
Canadian cousins, Bill, Dick and Harold (Ozzie) Miller, on their farm
in Guelph, Ontario. He developed a sincere admiration for his uncle,
Dr. Henry Miller. Later in life, he would often tell people that he
patterned his life after him. One of his favorite stories about Dr.
Miller was how the man would administer his services based on a
sliding fee scale, then donate the surplus funds to needy people
around Guelph. Whenever John helped a neighbor or donated his own
time or resources to some community project or initiative, it was
probably Henry’s influence weighing on him.
John
was an accomplished athlete at Amherst Senior High School. Following
graduation, he attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. There, he
pursued a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, followed by a doctorate in
veterinary medicine.
John
moved to northern Vermont to start his practice. He began his career
as a large-animal specialist, which gave him the opportunity to visit
the dairy farms and meet the people throughout the region. Being a
real “people person,” John truly enjoyed these interactions.
However, after a few years of driving through whiteout blizzards in
the middle of the night to deliver a calf or tend to a colicky horse,
John began exploring the merits of hosting a small-animal practice.
John
married Theresa Isabel Duffy of Milton, Vt. They settled in Georgia,
Vt., and took great joy in watching their three active sons, John
William (“Bill”), Patrick and Martin grow up. In the summer, they
travelled extensively. The highlight of the winter was flooding their
tennis court to form a hockey rink that was enjoyed by many in the
community. John has several happy memories of these years surrounded
by his immediate and extended family, as well as the many friends he
made along the way.
Although
veterinary medicine was the focus of his professional interests,
John’s passion for folk music, especially the banjo, lasted a
lifetime. In his later years, he was happiest strumming his banjo and
singing along. He also drew a sense of fulfillment from working
Belgian draft horses, as well as the succession of German shepherd
dogs he owned over the years.
Late
in life, John battled through serious health challenges. He faced
these with the same “never give up, never give in” mantra he
lived his entire life by. The nurses, along with the entire staff, of
the Woodbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center were steadfast
allies in this final battle. They went far above and beyond the call
of duty consistently and certainly demonstrated themselves to be
testaments to their professions. To list them all by name would
become oppressive to the reader while risking omission.
John
is survived by his sons, Bill of Georgia, Vt., Patrick of Goffstown,
N.H., and Martin (Dez-Ann) of Manchester, N.H.; his grandchildren,
Julien Paeplow and Lesly Zapata; and his sister, Margaret (Richard)
Viehe of Newport Beach, Calif., and Chautauqua, N.Y.
John’s
family will receive family and friends on Saturday, March 15, 2025,
10 a.m. to noon, at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main St., St.
Albans, VT. A memorial service will be held at noon, with the
Reverend Dr. Russell Willis officiating.
In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to Franklin County Animal Rescue, 30 Sunset Meadow, St. Albans, VT 05478.
Assisting
John’s family is the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of
condolence are welcome at healdfuneralhome.com.