Peter Keiffer

[M Kerkvliet]

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s317/mbkerk/WMSTR/1121KiefferPeter.jpg


Peter Kieffer
Photo: Jean Siirila



Peter Kieffer, 68, passed away Tuesday, April 28th, 2009, due to injuries sustained at his shop.

Peter was born on October 25th, 1940 in Fargo, ND to Claire and Eugene Kieffer. As a child he was always building, including soapbox derby cars, though he was too young to enter the contests. He also built working rockets which he demonstrated to college students from ‘the AC’, now known as NDSU. After graduating from Lincoln High School in Casselton, he went to work with his Uncle Sylvester’s earth moving company. In his early twenties, he built the Blue Ox, which won many tractor pulling contests. It was one of the most talked about tractors in the area. In his later twenties, he built the 4E-14 elevating scraper.

On January 18th, 1969 he married Joan Davis, originally from Flint, Michigan. Shortly thereafter, he started farming full-time in the Casselton area. In 1972 he built a 5 bedroom home for his growing family. Over the years, he designed and built cars, airplanes, and a wide variety of farm equipment. He was known for solving problems and doing things that most thought were impossible. He was also well-known for his ability to remember everyone he met. He learned the genealogy of his family and made a point to know who everyone was and to whom they were related.

He was a life-time member of the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers’ Reunion. He was president for four years and led many projects throughout the years, including the Pabst Engine, and the Prony Brake, amongst many others. He was appreciated for his ability to solve problems while keeping the peace. After Ray and Annie Shoberg retired, Peter took over responsibility for the commemorative plates sold each year at WMSTR.

He was proud to join his wife for a season of acting with the Silver Follies last year in the production of Little Abner.

Peter's greatest joy was his family. He was a self-taught philosopher, an educator, and a student. He passed his thirst for knowledge on to his 5 children and shared his passion for learning with everyone he met. He was always open to change, welcoming to all, and willing to talk to anyone.

He is preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Claire Kieffer, Sisters Bernadette and Charlene, Brother Donald, and stepmother Geri Tehrfer Kieffer.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joan; Daughter Jane (David) and their children, Peter, Claire, Cory, and Sebastien Rath; Daughter Ann and her sons Henri and Johann Kieffer; Son Roy (Sarah) and their daughter Elizabeth; Son Joseph (Craig) Kieffer; Son Thomas (Kate) Kieffer; Sister Bonnie (Harvey) Fiala; Brother-in-law Marvin Fyten; Sister-in-law Dorothy Haugland; Brother James (Arlene) Kieffer; Brother Leo (Alexia) Kieffer; Brother Ralph (Phyllis) Kieffer; Brother Harold (Kathy) Kieffer; Sister Lillian (Michael) Eberhardt; Brother John Kieffer; Sister Marilyn (Gerald) Barnes and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He is available to us all through prayer.

[Jerry Christiansen]

Matthew 16: 18 - 19 And Jesus replied, “ Simon, son of John, I call you Peter. And on this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”

The name Peter comes from the Greek word petra that means rock. Our friend Peter Kieffer lived that name. Peter was a rock that I knew I could count on. I knew that I could call in a time of emergency or crisis and he would be there, no matter what time of day or night.

In some of the lowest times of my life, Peter was there and allowed me to lean on him. In some of our struggles, Jane and I leaned on both Peter and Joan. Because he was a ‘Rock’, I/we could lean very hard.

I never had to wonder if Peter was there. I simply knew that he was there. The task could be a mundane as repairing a broken piece of equipment, or it could be getting some help in trying to figure out how to create some piece of equipment for a specific job. The welder and the torch were always available, and the coffee was always on.

Building the Red Prony Brake was one of several Rollag projects I worked on with Peter. Then, a few years later with his help, the Blue Brake was built. The Red Brake has not moved from Rollag, but the Blue Brake has traveled to several shows. People like Amos Rixman, Charlie Kvern, Jim Todahl, Jonathon Haux, Bill McCreery, Larry Jacobson and I are often seen running the Brake and talking to the crowd. A person often had to look to see Peter, because he wasn’t ‘on the stage’ with us. I didn’t have to look, I knew he was there. I knew if a danger that I didn’t see arose, it would be brought to our attention, or he would simply take care of it. I knew if help was needed, he was there. In these cases, the ‘Rock’ was there.

Peter, thank you for being a Rock for us. Godspeed home.

[M Kerkvliet]

Peters funeral was a tough one for us all. I am sure we all have different reasons as to why. He touched us all in different ways.

While I would not consider him a "close personal friend" as many who visit these pages might he was a good friend none the less. I came to know him well about the second year he was President of WMSTR. He was the first person to ever suggest I take my interest in WMSTR a little bit further, and get more involved with the operation of the show. I can still remember that conversation.

I also saw the man at work dealing with some very tense issues that came up both during the summer and during the show. He could bring two people at opposite ends of an issue together and have them (if not in agreement) at least amicable by the end of the day. It was his gift.

We talked a lot during the summer months on the hill. He would sometimes make some of the strangest comments, and then I would look at him and see a little "smirk" and know that he was pulling my chain a little. I was reminded of his habit of doing that during the Padre's sermon at the funeral.

He was a very special person, and one whom I will miss a great deal. There have been others (from our group) before him who have gone on to their reward way too soon, and unfortunately there will probably be more, but Peter is one I am a better man for getting to know. I will miss him, and judging from the number of people who came to pay their respects on Sunday night and Monday at the funeral, I will not be alone.

[David Peterson]

Daniel Webster in his dictionary states that a legacy is something that has been handed down from an ancestor or predecessor. Books are the legacies that great genius leaves to mankind. The past few days many of us have been honored to be witness to a part of the unvanishing of a legacy of huge proportions. Peter Kiefer has implanted in the minds of so many of us a legacy that will never diminish or wane. I will never forget that little smile at the corner of his mouth and the twinkle in his eye's just before extending his hand in welcome. Then ,a big smile that didn't need words because it meant he was glad to be in your company again.

A legacy is something that Peter surely leaves with us all but he also gives each of us something even better. It is communication that transfers from one friend to another friend that moves from the heart and cannot be explained. It is warmth and depth that is higher than mountains and lower than the bottom of the deepest sea. Thank you Peter for being part of our lives!

We have also been blessed by being able to be part of a true picture of love as it was painted before us by a wife that although buried in grief, proclaimed an eulogy of gigantic proportion and sang a song of everlasting love. We cannot find words to say how you touched our hearts and souls. " JOAN" you will always stand as a pillar to those of us that are honored to be a small part of your life.

To both of you , may our Lords everlasting love keep you together for ever.

Dave and Donna Peterson