Peter Herman Wirth Jr.

December 6, 1926 - December 3, 2015

On December 6, 1926, Peter Herman Wirth, Jr. was born to Peter and Selma (Engan) Wirth in Aurora, Illinois. He was baptized in Aurora and confirmed his faith at the Methodist church in Dorchester, Iowa. He attended several country schools in the Quandahl, Iowa area. In 1944, at the age of 17, Peter enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in the Pacific in WWII. After being wounded during heroic maneuvers in Okinawa, he returned home and was later awarded the Purple Heart and Navy Cross medals. He attended school in Winona to learn the craft of tool and die making. Through the years he was employed by Mansfield of Spring Grove, IBM of Rochester, Minnesota, Argus of Spring Grove and Columbia, South Carolina and Control Data of Spring Grove. Later he opened his own tool-and-die shop, Far-Vu-Products. Peter was a creative craftsman evident by his many projects including the faith chests made for Trinity Lutheran Church, curio cabinets, jewelry boxes, collage picture frames, wood quilts and more. Peter married Berthana Bergsrud on June 21, 1951. They were married for 64 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 249 for 70 years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He enjoyed hunting, training hunting dogs, and caring for the miniature horses, Hewy and Lewy. He will be remembered by his family for his kind heart, loving nature, and sense of humor. Peter passed into the eternal care of our Lord on December 3, 2015, at his home, three days short of his 89th birthday. He is survived by his loving wife, Berthana; four children, Darla (James) Hunzeker of Spring Grove, Gregory (Robyn) Wirth of Hokah, Minnesota, Jeffory Wirth (Julie Stemper) of Waukon, Iowa, and Debra (Kevin) Wolfe of Farmington, Minnesota; thirteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters Sylvia (Curtis) Wennes of Mabel, Minnesota, and Linda Curry of Sandwich, Illinois; one brother Robert (Carolyn) Metcalf of Sumner, Iowa. In addition to his parents, Peter is preceded in death by his step-mother, Olga Wirth, step-father Harry Metcalf, and one sister, Harriet Vellekson.