Pieter Peyper

Pieter Peyper, 88, of Osprey, Florida passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026 following complications from surgery. He spent his final week at the Venice Hospice House with his wife, Almut, at his side.

Born in 1938 in Lambert's Bay, a small fishing town in South Africa, Pieter grew up surrounded by beautiful nature, often walking barefoot on the beach and only putting on shoes before entering school. After his parents, Edith and William Peyper, moved to Durban, Pieter attended Natal Technical College and finished his education as a Master Refrigeration technician.

In his early 20s, he sailed to London, England with a youth group. By serendipity, he met a school friend who worked as a skater for the ice show, Holiday on Ice, and who told Pieter that the show needed someone to repair their cooling equipment. The company enlisted Pieter to fix the problem and then offered him a position as Refrigeration Technician with the traveling show for one year. He accepted, and so began his journey. That one year turned into a 50-year career in show business.

From the very beginning, Pieter observed everything backstage and learned all the different languages of the countries on the show’s itinerary so that he could communicate with the local people. Soon he became Stage Manager, traveling throughout Europe and South America. After taking a break in Florida, he managed an ice show in Atami, Japan, for one year. A highlight in Pieter’s life came in the early 1970s when he became a proud American citizen. This meant the world to him since he always believed in this country. Another offer to work with the Ice Follies as Stage Manager continued his work in the United States. In 1974 he became the Company Manager of Ice Follies. In the 20 years that followed, he held the position of Company Manager for Holiday on Ice and Walt Disney’s World on Ice, traveling nationally and internationally for ten months out of the year, and was responsible for travel arrangements, logistics, and setup of the show.

Most important to Pieter was taking care of those connected to the tours - up to 80 people at times who traveled with the show and were under his wings. Over the course of his career, he garnered the most satisfaction from working with hundreds of performers, stagehands, many promoters, and building managers. Though strict in his management and running of the show, he was fulfilled by taking care of everyone, treating all with respect and giving them the best and most honest advice when asked. He was a friend and father figure to many of the people with whom he worked, and many feel he had a lasting and positive influence on their lives. Many of these relationships developed into life-long friendships.

Pieter was full of wit and wisdom, spoke six languages, and had an almost photographic memory. He was well known for his knowledge and his expertise in show business and had the gift of handling stressful situations with ease. This ability made him the true and trustworthy leader everyone could count on.

In 1978 he met his wife, Almut Lehmann, a pair skater from Germany who was skating with her partner in Holiday on Ice. She was taken by Pieter’s charm and charisma and fell in love with him immediately. The two married in 1979 followed by 47 wonderful and exciting years together.

Pieter and Almut worked and traveled with the ice shows until 1994 when Pieter became Executive Director of Holiday on Ice Europe and worked at its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland, overseeing three traveling ice show companies and all of their logistics. In 1999, he decided to go back to the USA with retirement in mind, but work was his passion. So when Sesame Street Live came calling for Pieter to again be a manager of a touring show he accepted it. Eventually he eased into retirement in 2010, and Pieter and Almut settled down in Osprey. They turned their house into a special personal retreat, thanks to Pieter's talent for building anything from scratch - a house full of many personal touches and memories of their travels throughout the world. During the last few years, Pieter developed a love for baking delicious bread and cheesecake which he enjoyed sharing with friends.

Pieter was a kind and understanding person who respected everybody, lived a fulfilled and content life, and was very grateful for every day. He cherished the company of his friends, sharing good conversations over food and wine as well as all the stories he and his wife experienced throughout their exciting life together. He is greatly missed by his many friends around the world and especially by his wife, who lost the love of her life and her soulmate.

He is survived by his wife Almut Peyper, his brother Ferdinand Peyper, his sister Daphne Meyer, his nieces Charlene, Jeanene and his nephews Anthony and Kevin.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edith and William Peyper, his sisters Clare and Wilma and his nephew Vincent.

Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 8th at 12:00 pm at Robert Toale and Sons Celebration of Life Center at Siesta Key, 7454 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231 with a reception to follow until 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Tidewell Hospice in Venice at Wexley Ave.