Joel Brian Peigh, age 39, Noblesville, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family, on July 24, 2009. He was born July 5, 1970, in Terre Haute, to Dr. and Mrs. Damon B. Peigh. He attended elementary and junior high school in the Vigo County School Corporation, and graduated from Madison Consolidated High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, where he met his wife, April Lea Knauf, also a Purdue graduate. Always the entrepreneur, Joel passionately established and operated The Home Zone Handyman Services, Inc. He was an avid sports fan, constantly cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Purdue's basketball and football teams, and all the sport teams his kids played on. Joel was a devoted husband and father, who always put his family first. His gregarious and easygoing personality, along with his terrific sense of humor, won the hearts of everyone he met. He truly treasured spending time with his family and friends. His amazing strength, courage, compassion and love were magnified for all to see as he battled esophageal cancer the past 14 months. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, April, and their three children, Rachel, age 10; Daphne, age 8; and Vincent age 7. Other survivors include his parents, Damon and Kathy (Morris) Peigh of Indianapolis; his two sisters, Carrie E. Colvin of Greenwood and Erin J. (Brandon) Carr of Indianapolis; nieces, Kelsey and Madison Colvin, and Mackenzie and Elaina Carr; his grandmother, Annabel Morris of Terre Haute; aunt and uncle, Paula (Randy) Cooprider of Bloomington, and Darrell (Lois) Peigh of Terre Haute; cousins, Chris (Melissa) Cooprider of Rockwell, Texas, Amy (Dr. John) Walker of Greenwood, Karen (Steve) Allen of Bloomington, Kyle (Traci) Peigh of Noblesville, Jamalyn (David) Williamson of Milroy, and Joshua (Pilar) Peigh of Manchester, N.H. Other survivors include his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alvin and Pauline Knauf of Bartlett, Ill.; four brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law; along with 20 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ransford G. Morris, Charles and Margaret Peigh of Terre Haute. Family and friends may visit on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Randall and Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., in Noblesville. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2009, at the funeral home, with the burial in Crownland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests financial contributions be made to PeighItForward Classic, P.O. Box 47706, Indianapolis, IN, 46247, in Joel's honor.

Published in The Tribune Star from 7/26/2009 - 7/27/2009