The evening will begin at 4 p.m. with a devotion from Gary Damron. Please come help us to honor our dad’s wishes in a fashion that he would have loved: good food and drinks, good music and good stories. We look forward to sharing in memories and fellowship. Dad touched so many lives and all are welcome. This is a celebration and not a funeral so come as you are, Chiefs, Royals and MIZZOU attire strongly suggested
Food and beverages will be provided and there will be bar service.
4pm-9pm, The Martin Event Space, 13440 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, Missouri 64145
Pete’s story, and that of our family is one that reminds us of the blessings of life and liberty. Before Pete was born, his parents lived a prominent life in Berlin, Germany. Pete’s mother Luzia was a Christian, and his father Erwin was Jewish. In the late 1930’s, Jews faced mounting travel restrictions by the Nazi Party. Using possibly forged documents, Erwin and Luzia aimed to leave Berlin by train, with three-year-old son Wolfgang. However, Erwin was pulled from the train by German Gestapo. Luzia was sure she would never see her husband again. To this day, it remains a mystery how, but Erwin was allowed to rejoin his family. They caught one of the last trains that would travel from Berlin to Paris, then fled Europe entirely. Pete’s parents and older brother narrowly escaped the Nazis and the Holocaust that took so many lives in our family and other families. As refugees, they found sanctuary in the Holy Land. Pete often showed family photographs and spoke mournfully of those who did not reach freedom; those who died on Kristallnacht, in the ghettos and in the concentration camps.
Peter “Pete” David Lewandowski was born July 14, 1941. He passed away in the early hours of Sunday June 27, 2021. At the age of 79, Pete was just a month shy of his 80th birthday. Pete was born in Rishon LeZion, a city along Israel’s Mediterranean coast. Pete lived with his parents Erwin and Luzia, and brother Wolfgang “Bill” in Tel Aviv, Israel until the age of 11. Pete’s parents and brother precede him in death. He was a devoted son and often shared memories of his mother especially.
Pete is survived in life by children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. From his first marriage to Helen Weiser in 1966, he has three daughters: Saundra Marie Lewandowski-Schnoebelen, Kathryn Joan Lewandowski-Thomas and Barbara Lynn Damron (m. Gregory Damron). From his marriage to Tricia Conrad-Lewandowski in 1979, he has two daughters: Lauren Luzia Lewandowski and Jessica Carroll Duesterhoeft (m. Adam Duesterhoeft). Pete is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Zachary David Lewandowski age 32 (m. Kristen Bereswill), Jacob Ryan Schnoebelen age 30 (m. Claire Ellingson), Taylor Elizabeth Damron age 28, Brenton Michael Damron age 26, Nathan Charles Damron age 25, Hannah Jean Damron age 23, Luzia Ella Thomas age 16, Walter Andrew Thomas age 14, Brooklynn Marie Stanton age 11, Gwendolyn Rose Duesterhoeft age 8, and Layla Annabella Stanton age 7.
Pete was a passionate conservationist, and his daughters grew up camping and boating at Tablerock and Lake of the Ozarks. He loved the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, The MIZZOU Tigers, and the NY Islanders.
Growing up, Pete’s daughters loved hearing his stories about growing up in Israel and later, Queens, NY. Running around with his cousin Michael “Mike” Fernbach. Shaking prickly pears (sabras) from trees and getting covered in cactus spines. Peddling his bike as fast as his legs could carry him to bring his mother an actual block of ice (for the icebox) before it melted in the sweltering desert heat. Learning his first English (albeit curse words) from British troops.
On March 1st, 1953, Pete, along with his parents and brother, crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Naples, Italy. From there, they made their 10-day passage to the United States aboard the S.S. Independence. Pete often recalled his tale of coming to America aboard the Independence. While many were below deck suffering seasickness, Pete roamed freely about the ship, including the first-class dining room. Growing up in humble surroundings in Israel, Pete was dazzled by the dining tables adorned with white linens, crystal glassware and polished silver. If you ever heard Pete tell his story, you could easily picture a skinny wide-eyed little boy in wonderment that the white-gloved servers would bring him anything he could imagine to eat. It was often one poached egg after the next from bone China egg cups.
For most immigrants, catching their first glimpse of Lady Liberty, torch held aloft, meant freedom, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” All Pete new of America was what he had seen in the cinema in Tel Aviv. His favorites were the Westerns. With hilarity, Pete would recall his disappointment at seeing skyscrapers and taxis. Horns honking and people shouting. There was not a cowboy in sight. He recollected peering around buildings, peeking down alleys, hoping to catch an Indian astride a wild mustang.
At 11, Pete was quick-witted and eager to learn English. Even as a child, he found odd jobs where he could, and made friends easily in Queens, NY. Pete loved going to hockey matches with his father at Madison Square Garden. A fan of Motown and Barbershop music, he even sang in an acapella group. Pete loved many styles of music, and his daughters grew up listening to Pete sing along to his vinyl records and having dance parties in the living room.
Growing up in Israel, Pete spoke German, Hebrew and some Arabic. He became fluent in English after immigrating to the United States and even spoke some French. Pete’s multilingual background, proficiency at sales and charismatic personality surely helped him in his first career with Swiss Air, leading tour groups across Europe. Pete was also an entrepreneur. His most successful business being Jetway Limousine Service. His daughters fondly recall many a trip to and from Kansas City International Airport. Other distinguished positions include working for Multiservice Corp. and Sprint. The work that was the most meaningful to Pete was his time with Midtown Psychological Services where he worked as a Parent Aide and Mentor in the greater Kansas City area. As a Parent Aide, Pete worked as part of a team to help reunify families in the foster care system. He also worked one-on-one with at-risk youth in our community. Even after his official retirement, Pete kept in touch with many of these children, families and foster providers and they were like family to him.
Col. James Doolittle said, “There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” This was certainly true for Pete Lewandowski. Pete was deeply patriotic and proud of becoming an American citizen. He tried several times to enlist in the US military but was disqualified for medical reasons. He often made donations to both the American Wounded Warrior Project and The Israeli Defense Forces. Pete’s cousin Mike Fernbach served in the US Fourth Infantry Division. Pete was so honored when Mike invited him to attend The Fourth Infantry Division’s reunion in 2019. Pete had such a great time meeting everyone and sharing in their stories. He must have made an impression because at the end of the reunion they made him an ‘Honorary Member’. At the end of Pete’s life, he recalled this reunion often, with pride and happiness. We are so grateful that our Uncle Mike gave Dad this wonderful memory.
Pete truly had the heart of a volunteer, often volunteering side-by-side with his daughters. Pete helped to rebuild homes in Kansas City for the Christmas in October non-profit organization. At the Kansas City Zoo, he helped by repainting buildings. He volunteered his horticultural expertise at Powell Gardens in Kingsville, MO. Even in his senior years, he volunteered at Kansas City Pet Project, walking dogs that were almost bigger than he was.
Pete was a man who cared deeply and gave generously. He often talked about his dream of opening an animal sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, we suggest donating to one of the charities that were closest to Pete’s heart: Kansas City Pet Project and Wounded Warrior Project. We love you Poppy. Your legacy lives on...
https://donate.kcpetproject.org/PeteLewandowski
https://communityfundraising.woundedwarriorproject.org/campaign/PeteLewandowski
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