Peter Franz Streit passed away peacefully in his home in Edmond, Okla. on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Tami Streit, sister Susanna Talbert, sister-in-law Wendy Shepherd, son Peter Streit, stepsons Bryce and Damond Burpo, and numerous grandchildren.
His was a large, generous life that touched a great many people in ways big and small. He befriended men and women in all stations of life, making no distinctions in class, creed, or ethnicity, engaging all with an open heart, kind character, and generosity of spirit. He counted among his friend’s hospitality workers, businessmen and women, politicians, heads of state, and accorded each the respect and dignity he would want for himself.
Peter Franz Streit was born in Speicher, Germany on May 2, 1933 to Peter and Susanna Streit-Willems. Coming of age during the war years and their immediate aftermath, he had to grow up fast and learn to take care of himself and his family. He worked in the family bakery business ultimately earning the accreditation of “Master Baker”, a distinction only attained with study, apprenticeship, hard work, and skill. In 1955, he married Sibylle Arull and their son, Peter, was born in 1956. He subsequently opened a bakery and pastry shop, Cafe Streit in Bitburg, Germany running that until late 1960.
Seeking opportunity as so many have previously done, he and his young family immigrated to the United States in November, 1960, settling in Charleston, S.C. from which beginning he truly lived the American dream.
His first job in the U.S. was in a commercial bakery, but that soon changed as he became a Maitre D’ at one of Charleston’s finest restaurants. From there he went on to start a career in the hotel business as a Catering Manager which soon led to General Manager and ultimately as President of Jack Tar Hotels and the founding president of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Throughout the course of his career, he developed and oversaw hotels in the Caribbean, notably the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Antigua; Mexico, throughout the United States, and Germany.
After a successful career in the hospitality industry, when most people would have thoughts of retirement, he and partners Ernie Blank and Ray Fernandez formed Windmill Development, a commercial real estate development company based in Frisco, TX, which built and managed the Westin Stonebriar Resort and Golf Course, The Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel, and the neighboring mixed use development, Stonebriar Commons. He was also active in the community and for many years was Chairman of the Frisco Convention and Visitors Bureau.
After his wife Sibylle died in 2001, he remarried Tami Shepherd in 2003. They built a good life together which ultimately took him to his home in Edmond, Oklahoma where he spent the last four years surrounded by friends and family enjoying many good times.
If one were to ask the first things that come to mind about Peter Franz Streit, they would invariably include courage, grace, integrity, generosity, sincerity, gregariousness, and kindness. While proud of his many business achievements, his most cherished accomplishment, and his true measure of a large life well lived was the family he gathered around himself. He will be missed.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baggerley.com for the Streit family.
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