David M. Piper

PIPER, David M.  Age 47, formerly of Fenton, died Sunday, July 31, 2005 in Turin, Italy as a result of a bicycle-car collision. Funeral mass will be celebrated 11 AM Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 N. Adelaide St., Fenton, with Rev. Fr. Andrew Czajkowski celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Augustine Catholic Cemetery in Howell. Visitation will be held 5-9 PM Sunday and 2-4 and 5-9 PM Monday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton. A prayer service will be held at 7 PM Monday at the funeral home. David was born on December 27, 1957 to Justin and Doris (Saari) Piper in Lansing, Michigan. David graduated from General Motors Institute (Kettering University) in 1981, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He married his wife, Debra Ziobron Piper on November 19, 1982. They lived in Fenton where their sons, Eric (16) and Adam (14) were born. David began his career with General Motors at Hydramatic in Ypsilanti, Michigan. While working, Dave attended the Advanced Management Program of Michigan State University and earned his Masters of Business Administration in 1991. The family moved to Indianapolis in 1995, when David accepted the position of Chief Engineer of Commercial Transmissions at GM Allison Transmission. He was promoted to Director, Tram=nsmission Engineering at Allison in 1997. In 2001, the joint venture between GM Powertrain and Fiat, took the family to Turin, Italy. With the dissolution of the joint venture this spring, Dave was named Executive Director of Product Engineering of GM Powertrain Europe with headquarters remaining in Turin. GM had just announced August 1, 2005 David would lead the organization in Turin as Vice President and general manager of General Motors Powertrain Europe. Dave enjoyed being with his family while snow skiing, cycling, rock climbing, golfing, traveling and working on home and garden improvement projects. He is survived by: his wife and sons, parents, his brother, John of Howell, MI and his wife Julie (Robbins) and his sister Amy Salisbury of Colorado. Daves father-in-law and mother-in-law are Joseph and Mary Ziobron of Warren, MI. His sisters-in-law are Ann Edwards and her husband, Gary of Fenton, and Joyce Muckenthaler and her husband, Dennis of Algonac. He has 10 nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to Kettering University or the Lance Armstrong Foundation. A memorial service is also being planned in Turin, Italy, with a tentative date of September 5, 2005. Friends may share their online condolence or post a tribute at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.