Peter Gortmaker

Peter Gortmaker, 98 of Parker died Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.  Funeral services will be at 10:30am Wednesday, June16, 2021 at the First English Lutheran Church in Parker with burial with military rites at Rosehill Cemetery, Parker.  Visitation will be from 5-7pm Tuesday evening at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker.

Peter Willis Gortmaker was born on December 22, 1922 on a farm north of Parker to Wirt and Susie (Friese) Gortmaker.  He attended country schools and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1940.  During WW II he served in the US Navy and was recalled into duty during the Korean War.  On January 25, 1951 he was united in marriage to Ruth Jones at Parker, SD.  After his discharge from the Navy he farmed for a time before starting his employment with the US Postal Service in Parker, SD, 57053.  For 40 years he served as a rural mail carrier, retiring in 1990.  They moved into Parker in 1961 where they lived in the same home until recently becoming residents at Dow Rummel.  Over the years Pete also worked doing carpentry for Snick and Stan, helped do plumbing with Phil Graber and for many years mowed the Rosehill Cemetery.

Pete was a member of the First English Lutheran Church, life member of the VFW and DAV, member of the Turner County Rural Mail Carriers Association and the National Rural Mail Carriers Association.  He was on the very first Honor Flight.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Ruth; 4 children, Gwen (Ed) Highfill, Richmond, TX, Teri (Peter Nied) LaVelle, Stuart, Florida, Donald Gortmaker, St. Paul, MN and Karen (Marwin) Hofer, Aberdeen, SD; 5 grandchildren, Sarah, Ciara, Amanda, Brooklyn and Mitchell; and 4 great grandchildren, Finley, Caidan, Eden and L J.  He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Evert, Luke, Eddie, Helen, George, Leonard, Gracie and Bill.