Adrian T. "Pete" Peterschmidt Obituary

Adrian T. “Pete” Peterschmidt, 93, died peacefully Saturday, March 12, 2022 in West Des Moines, Iowa. He was born December 19, 1928 in Lee County, Iowa to Frank and Myrtle (Holtkamp) Peterschmidt. He was the 2nd born of eight children and the only boy. The family was raised on a small farm near West Point, Iowa. Life on the farm was difficult during those lean years but everyone learned to pitch in to keep food on the table. After high school, Pete left the farm and attended St. Ambrose College and Iowa State University where he studied engineering.

Pete married Rosemary Schmitz in 1950 and together they had five children: Ted, Doug, Catherine, Mary, and Tim. The family initially lived in Des Moines where Pete began a 40-year career with Barton Solvents, starting as a route truck driver, then as a sales rep and finally, working his way into management. He moved his young family to Davenport during these early years and worked at the Bettendorf office. After 33 years in the Quad Cities, he returned to the corporate office in Des Moines, where he retired in 1991 as a vice president for the company.

In later years, Pete reconnected with Pauline (Holtkamp) Brinck, a high school friend, and they were married in 1995. They continued to live in Des Moines.

Pete had a love of airplanes starting at a young age, when he learned to make WWII models. He hung them in his bedroom, (which he had all to himself much to his many sisters’ dismay), in the small farmhouse at the end of the lane. His hobby continued through the years and he was delighted when his grandchildren gave him his first remote control model airplane and introduced him to model rockets. He loved building and flying them all.

Another of Pete’s favorite hobbies was bird-hunting. He said that his love of hunting started when he was finally deemed old enough to hunt with his Uncle Henry (Otten) using his dad’s single shot 12-gauge shotgun, which he later passed on to his own son, Doug. He shared his passion for hunting with his sons, grandsons and friends. He even taught a few of the women in his life how to shoot. Pete was a proud member of the Winterset and New Pioneer Hunt Clubs, where he shot skeet well into his 80’s.

Pete also enjoyed downhill skiing. For many years, Pete and his three sons would go to Colorado for a ‘boys only’ ski trip. The entire multigenerational family often celebrated New Year’s by getting together for a skiing weekend in Dubuque. (We remember Grandpa telling the little ones that 9:00 pm was the ‘best’ time to blow the horns and throw the confetti because no one could make it to midnight after a long day on the slopes). One year he took the whole family on a ski trip to Breckenridge, CO. Lots of wonderful memories were made on that trip. Pete took real pride in being able to ski as an 80-year old!

He loved his family and looked forward to visits and phone calls from his children, grandchildren and sisters. Pete’s grandchildren all had the experience of visiting him in Des Moines for a few days of “Grandpa Camp” when they were of elementary school age. He also enjoyed attending a number of Peterschmidt reunions held around the country with extended family.

In his later years, Pete loved to watch the birds and squirrels from his second story deck. He kept the feeders full and would report his latest sightings to us all with excitement! He also loved peaches, with Colorado Talbot’s being his favorite. He would travel from store to store in search of them to make his famous peach pies. Then he would keep busy in the kitchen for days as he peeled and froze the fruit or popped a pie in the oven to share with Pauline and anyone who happened by for a visit. He also loved talking to people and would tell his stories with whoever would lend an ear.

Pete is survived by his wife, Pauline, children: Doug (Ann), Catherine Johnson, Mary (Bob) Bursaw, Tim (Brenda), 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Arlene, Juanita and Rita, his first wife Rosemary (Schmitz) Peterschmidt, and his oldest son, Ted.

A visitation is planned for 9:30 am Saturday, May 21 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines, followed by a 10:30 am mass. The interment will take place at Mt. Calvary cemetery in Davenport, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church of West Des Moines, IA or the Alzheimer's Association; alz.org. For a complete obituary and online condolences go to IlesCares.com.

ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES WESTOVER CHAPEL

To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Adrian T. "Pete" Peterschmidt, please visit our Tribute Store.