Paul Peister

Funeral Services for Paul Dean Peister, age 89, of Norfolk, Nebraska, will be 10:00 a.m. September 27, 2025, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 S 9th St, Norfolk, Nebraska. Reverend Peter Jark-Swain will officiate.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Paul died Thursday, September 4, 2025, at his residence.

Paul Dean Peister was born in Hastings, Nebraska, July 26, 1936, to Harry and Gladys (Ralston) Peister. The Peister family moved to Kearney when Paul was two years old. Paul and his brother, Ron, attended school and college in Kearney. After graduation, Paul taught a year in Orleans, Nebraska, was drafted into the army and spent 15 months of his tour as the company clerk in the 76th Army Band in Orleans, France.

In 1962, having acquired a master’s degree in education, Paul was hired to teach English and French at Norfolk High School and Norfolk Junior College. He continued teaching English at NECC until the day he died. Paul's interests included a love of dogs, the theatre, and music.

Paul debuted with Norfolk Community Theatre in 1964, performing as a puppeteer for their production of Carnival. Paul continued to be a vital member of the theatre community, and rarely was a production mounted onstage that he was not involved in whether it be onstage, backstage, painting scenery, running errands, or bringing donuts and coffee to Saturday work crews. Even not remembering lines too well, the Rogue Avenue Production crew allowed him to carry a script onstage and participate in their traveling productions.

Paul is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth; children, Justin (Terri) Peister of North Tustin, CA and Jordan Holbert of Manhattan Beach, CA; stepchildren, Hillary (Terry) Vermillion of St. Cloud, MN and Karl (Brenda) Reeder of Erie, CO; grandchildren, Aspen, Jadyn, Rylan, Kit, Alexa, Jay, Jack, and Reagan; and three great-grandchildren.

Paul was proceeded in death by his parents, Harry and Gladys Peister; and brother, Ron Peister.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Northeast Community College or Trinity Episcopal Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul Peister, please visit our floral store.