Pineau was born in what is now Sèvremoine, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France on 23 February 1913 as the only son of Pierre Sr. and Pauline Pineau. He had two sisters and went to school in Saint-Germain before working with his father on the family farm. He completed the mandatory two years of military service as a young man.

Pineau married his wife, Marie-Rose, on 8 September 1939. The couple had four sons and a daughter. He was taken prisoner during World War II, during which time, his father died. When he was freed, he ran the farm until his retirement in 1973.

During his retirement, Pineau and his wife were heavily involved in community activities, including the senior citizens’ club, as well as folklore and theatre. At the time of his 100th birthday, Pineau still lived in the same house he was born in. He had 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He enjoyed gardening during his centenarian years.

In December 2015, his commune of birth and residence, Saint-Germain-sur-Moine, was part of a merger with several other communes to form one large commune, named Sèvremoine.

As a supercentenarian, Pineau was still able to walk with the aid of a walker.