Deborah Pepping, 68, of Geneseo, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Hammond Henry Hospital, Geneseo. Cremation rites have been requested, and no services are to be held. Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel will be assisting the family. In lieu of a memorial or flowers for Debbie, the family would like you to perform an act of kindness in her remembrance if you wish.
Deborah was born on October 11, 1957, in Moline, IL. She was the daughter of Donald L. and Yvonne R. (Lannoo) Hamer. She met the love of her life, Daniel J. Pepping, on June 17, 1977. Three days after they met, he asked her to marry him. They were married July 1, 1978, in East Moline, IL. He preceded her in death on November 4, 2020, after 42 years, 4 months, and 3 days of marriage.
Debbie graduated from Moline High School in 1975 and from Black Hawk College in 1977 with an Associate’s in Business Administrative Secretarial. She also attended Black Hawk College for early childhood education studies. She attended Northern Illinois for educable mentally handicapped studies.
Debbie had various jobs over the years. She worked as a secretary at the Moline Board of Education with the work/study program at Moline High School. She worked as a stenographer/secretary at Black Hawk College and Northern Illinois University’s financial aid office. She was a personal secretary/stenographer to the manager of the claims department at Modern Woodman of America. She was a preschool teacher for 10 years. Debbie and Dan were caregivers to Debbie’s grandmother in their home for over two years. She last worked for 24 years at Geneseo Walmart as Department Manager, having to retire with disabilities in 2015.
Debbie enjoyed reading, going to the library, music, movies, spending time with her sister Cathie, and going to Fest for Beatles Fans held in Chicago each year with her husband Dan. Debbie and Dan loved going to the Taste of Chicago, Navy Pier, record album shopping, antiquing, visiting Barnes and Noble, and weekend getaways to Chicago, Iowa City, and Amana.
Her greatest joy in life was being Dan’s wife and babysitting her nephews and niece when they were little, and watching them grow into beautiful, caring, and successful adults who love the Lord.
Debbie is survived by her sister, caregiver and best friend, Catherine (Scott) Stinson; brother, Don (Vicki) Hamer; nephews, David and Joshua (Kaylee) Stinson and Matthew (Megan) Hamer; niece Megan (Daniel) Cruz Berrerra; 3 great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
Those who preceded her in death are her loving, devoted husband of over 42 years, Dan; parents, Donald L. and Yvonne R. (Lannoo) Hamer; grandparents, Mary and Gerard Lannoo and Helen and Harry Hamer.
In Debbie’s words, “It has been a wonderful journey - Thank you for being in my life.”
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
Dan and Debbie are together again.