Wasco County OR Archives Obituaries.....Peetz, Arthur Edward May 2005
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 8, 2006, 2:47 am

The Dalles Chronicle, May 31, 2005
     Arthur Edward Peetz was born in Cheyenne, Wyo., Oct. 21, 1918 to William 
E. and Lina “Schurger” Peetz. He grew up near Hereford, a small town in 
northeastern Colorado, and in 1936, at age 16, he rode the rails to Oregon, 
returning each year to attend school until he graduated from Grover High 
School in 1938.
     Soon after arriving in Oregon, Mr. Peetz hitchhiked to Tygh Valley, and 
while working for Lewis Oliver Wing, he fell in love with Wing’s youngest 
daughter, Florence Ethyl Wing. They became husband and wife July 26, 1941 and 
had a loving marriage that lasted almost 64 years. They had two children, a 
daughter, Beth Elaine born in 1942, and Lawrence Arthur, born in 1945.
     Following active service in the US Army during World War II, Mr. Peetz 
moved his family to Wamic, where he joined his brother William, and his wife 
Dorothy, who was Florence’s sister, to form Peetz Brothers Ranch, a 
partnership that lasted over 30 years. 
     Always mindful of conservation and looking for ways to increase 
productivity while improving the land, the Peetz Brothers were rewarded for 
their efforts by gaining the respect of their peers and the community at large 
and were named Grassman of the Year in 1952 and 1955, Wasco County Cattleman 
of the year in 1964, and Livestock Family of the Year in 1975; they received a 
Leadership Award for Soil Conservation in 1969. The Dalles Chamber of Commerce 
named Mr. Peetz Farmer of The Year in 1969. 
     Mr. Peetz was instrumental in forming Pine Hollow Improvement District, 
which, by joining with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the 
Department of Forestry, in a first of its kind project that brought together 
private, state, and federal programs, conceived and built the Pine Hollow 
Reservoir near Wamic. Mr. Peetz served as secretary for the Badger Improvement 
District board for 28 years, and after retiring from ranching in 1977, was 
elected to the Wasco Electric Board where he served for 12 years and was 
awarded Life Membership by the Northwest Public Power Association in 1984. Mr. 
Peetz was a charter member of American Legion Post 135 in Wamic, a member of 
the Wasco County Cattleman’s Association, BPO Elks 303, The Oregon Trail Good 
Sam Club and Mid-Columbia Senior Center.
     He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Florence Ethyl (Wing) Peetz; 
daughter, Beth Ashley, and her husband, Mike Ward, Maupin; son, Lawrence 
Arthur and his wife, Joyce, Portland; a brother, William Peetz, of The Dalles 
and a sister, Evelyn Justesen and her husband Roger, Tygh Valley; 
grandchildren Debi Baltus and husband Dick, Roseburg; Steven Ashley and wife 
Julie, of San Francisco; Sarah Krien and husband Bob, Maupin; Jeff Roderick 
and wife Anastasia, Lake Oswego, and Greg Roderick, Portland.      Great-
grandchildren Henry, Andrew, Isabelle & William Ashley of San Francisco; 
Veronica Roderick, Lake Oswego; Joshua & Isabelle Roderick, West Linn, and 
Rikki Baltus; and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. His parents, a 
sister, Henritta Emerick, and a brother, Raymond, preceded Mr. Peetz in death. 
     Viewing visitation will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home 
on Wednesday, June 1, from 2 to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Services will be held at Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home at 2 p.m. 
Thursday, June 2, with Asa Jenson officiating. Interment will follow at 
Threemile Road Odd Fellows Cemetery. Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home is 
in care of arrangements.
     Memorial contributions may be made to Wamic Historical Society or the 
Oregon Veterans’ Home, 700 Veterans Drive, The Dalles, Ore., 97058. 


Additional Comments:
Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, 
Oregon, Dan Spatz, Editor (e-mail dated 3/7/2006).


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