Michael “Mike” H. Piper, 69, of Mount Vernon, Illinois passed away at 10:20 A.M. August 2, 2017 at his residence in Mount Vernon, Illinois. He was born September 17, 1947 in Mount Vernon, Illinois to Henry “Hank” & Dorothy Louise (McLaughlin) Piper. He married Barbara Newbury on August 24, 1983 in the Virgin Islands.

Mike is survived by his wife, Barbara Piper of Mount Vernon, Illinois; 2 brothers, Thomas “Tom” Piper and wife, Cuma of Mount Vernon, Illinois and William “Bill” Piper and wife, Marguerite of Mount Vernon, Illinois; sister, Nancy Sue Phillips and husband, Joe of Gatlin, Tennessee; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Piper; and 2 sisters, Mary Ann Lynn and Janie Schurtz.

Mike worked his entire life as a farmer and was an avid tractor puller from the early age of 16. He was the Illinois State Champion several times, the1990 “Rookie of the Year” for the National Tractor Pulling Association, and won “Team of the Year” for T&T Motor Sports. He pulled in several of the larger Domes throughout the country including; Astrodome in Texas, Silverdome in Michigan, Omni-Dome in Atlanta, and won the Indy-Dome’s last Super Pull in Indiana. He won the 1998 Championship Ring in Bowling Green Ohio which is one of the biggest pulls in the country. In 1999 he competed and won a Pull in Amsterdam. Later in life, he and his wife became snow birds in the Fort Meyer, Florida area. Mike was a member of Jefferson County Shrine, Mount Vernon Masonic Lodge #31, Ainad Shrine Temple of East St. Louis, Illinois, a lifelong Elks member, and a member of Grace Community Church.

Visitation: 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Shriner’s Walk Through will take place at 8:00 P.M. Funeral Service: 1:00 P.M. Thursday, August 10, 2017 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois with Mr. Jason Newell officiating. Interment: Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Memorials: Brian Piper Memorial Foundation.

Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.