Peter Peitz of Cotter is being remembered as a man who went through the experience of wartime in Germany as a child and later became an accomplished businessman and philanthropist in the Twin Lakes Area. Peitz died Tuesday at Sycamore Springs Senior Living at the age of 87.
Peitz was born in Germany in 1937, nearly two years before the start of World War II. According to cotterbridge.org, his impact on Cotter began in 1970 after gaining education and expertise in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. He discovered a love for the Twin Lakes Area through an opportunity suggested by former Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller.
Peitz later created White River Industries and worked to revitalize Cotter by transforming deserted buildings into manufacturing locations. In addition, he and others in the community teamed up with Baxter Health to build a cancer treatment center on the hospital campus when he realized several of his employees were struggling as caregivers for parents and other family members diagnosed with cancer. Previously, the closest treatment facility was in Little Rock.
Peitz and his wife, Jan, were dating when she oversaw the building of a cancer support center in 1999. Jan Peitz was Baxter Health’s director of the surgery suites, and she envisioned a safe place for newly-diagnosed patients to find resources and answers and support for those undergoing treatment. During the fundraising effort, Peter Peitz quietly became the major donor. Jan Peitz would become the first coordinator of the Peitz Cancer Support House.
Peter and Jan Peitz would make another major contribution to the city of Cotter with the relighting of the R.M. Ruthven Bridge over the White River. They joined with other community members to make an investment in the bridge’s Peitz River Lights.
Funeral arrangements for Peter Peitz are pending at Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI