Peter Weidner Jr.

Married 55 years, Pete was a loving and devoted husband to his wife Penny, and father to four children, and eleven grandchildren. Pete’s family owned a car business, Weidner Motor Car, which was started by his father Peter Weidner in the 1926 in Loudonville, Ohio and continued by Pete through 1989. Pete also helped his family run “Weidner Farms”, his father’s cherished beef farms, located outside of Loudonville, Ohio. Pete served six years in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school in 1958. He had many hobbies, but cars were his passion. Pete raced cars for Pontiac at various locations throughout the United States in his late twenties. Pete started The Mid-Ohio Moto-X Park in Lexington, Ohio in 1979, which soon grew to competitive motor cross racing on an international level by 1981.

Pete and Penny retired to Marco Island, Florida in 1986. To no surprise, Pete purchased the city’s original fire house on the Island to house his car collection. The station affectionately became known as “Pete’s Fire House” and the camaraderie of Pete’s many friends and admirers soon became known as the “Fire House Boyz”.

The best description of Pete was his contagious smile and genuine love of people. Pete had a way of making a complete stranger feel important and respected by him. There was no stranger who didn’t soon become a friend of Pete’s. Although he was respected by countless friends, his biggest admirers are his wife Penny and his children and grandchildren. His spirit will always be remembered by his insurmountable strength and his unwavering devotion and support he showed as a husband, father and “Pop-Pop”. Pete is his family’s truest Hero. Peter was a member of the St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Mansfield, Ohio and San Marco Catholic Church on Marco Island, Florida.

Pete Weidner was raised in Loudonville, Ohio by deceased parents Peter and Pauline Weidner.

Pete is survived by his wife, Penny Zivkoff Weidner; and his four children, Sophia Weidner (husband Mark Kawada), Christine Weidner Kazmierski (husband Randall), Peter Weidner III (wife Deborah) and Sherie Weidner; eleven grandchildren, Victoria, Grace, Parker, Madeline, Glen W., Marcel, Christophe, Henri, Marguerite, Peter IV and Ava; a brother, Bob Weidner; and nine nephews and nieces Susan, Beth, Mark, Matthew, Ann, Jean, Charissa, Benjamin, and Barret. He is preceded in death by two siblings and a nephew, Jerry Weidner, Judy Weidner Risacher, and Michael Weidner.

The family will receive friends from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2018, at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road with a Vigil prayer at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be recited for Peter at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 104 W. First St., Mansfield on Saturday, June 23 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a burial service at Mansfield Catholic Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date on Marco Island.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made in Pete’s name to Autism research or another charity of the donor's choice.