Joseph (Peppi) Simmeth

JOSEPH “PEPPI” SIMMETH, age 83, of Bel Air, MD, died on May 13, 2006 at his home. Born in Passau, Germany, Bavaria, he was the son of the late Josef and Albine Hiltl Simmeth. He was a proud American who earned his U.S. citizenship in 1961. He was also proud of his service in the German Army in WWII during which time he was a prisoner of war in Siberia for 6 years. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1956, moved to Harford County in 1959, and founded Peppi’s Meats in Bel Air in 1961 retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Maryland Golf and Country Club, a member of the Rotary Club for 25 years, and an honorary member of the Bel Air American Legion Post 39. His family said that he loved to play golf and cards.

Mr. Simmeth is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth J. Simmeth of Bel Air, MD; three sons, Joe Simmeth of Mesa, AZ, Bill Simmeth, and his wife, Kate, of Delaplane, VA and Gary Simmeth, and his wife, Valerie, of Waxhaw, NC; one daughter, Elizabeth Simmeth-Ensor, and her husband, Greg Ensor, of Jarrettsville, MD; four sisters, Albine “Terry” Hart, of Bel Air, MD, Maria Feld of Manhasset, NY, Carla Landers of Hamilton, TX and Katherine Coryell of Florida; and 7 grandchildren, Erin Simmeth, Kaitlin Simmeth and Billy Simmeth, all of Delaplane, VA, Natalie Simmeth and Tyler Simmeth, both of Waxhaw, NC and Corbin Ensor and Laurel Ensor, both of Jarrettsville, MD.

Pallbearers will be Robert W. Smith, Ray Shockley, Gregory Corbin Ensor, Corbin Gregory Ensor, Paul Haviland, Joe Thompson and Mark Ward. The Honorary Pallbearers will be Charlie Mason, William Stetka and Mario Campanaro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harford Hospice, 8003 Corporate Drive, Suite G, Baltimore, MD 21236.