Peter Thomas

Peter "Pete" Thomas, age 65 of Fort Collins, Colorado, died April 25, 2011 at his home. Cremation is planned and a celebration of Pete's life will be held beginning at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the VFW hall at 603 Lesser Dr., Ft. Collins. Peter Richard Thomas was born October 28, 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Edwin and Dorothy Thomas. He grew up in Grand Rapids and Spring Lake, Michigan and entered and served in the U. S. Air Force during the Viet Nam War from 1963 until 1965. On March 13, 1965, Pete married Carolyn Blackwell in Muskegon and together they had five children. He and Carolyn and four of their children moved to Laramie in the mid 1970's when Vassar, their youngest son, was born. Pete was a welder, fabricator and artist. He was a master craftsman who could turn simple metal pieces in to great things of beauty. He worked for the Union Pacific Rail Road and helped solve many problems by inventing equipment for improving the job at hand. In 1997 they moved to Fort Collins and Pete continued his work as a welder and artist. He worked for Distinctive Welding and helped build and create. Decorative welding is the craft he perfected over his lifetime of work and play. Peter was a teacher and mentor to his sons, his son-in-law and many others. He loved the out doors; hunting, fishing and camping until an accident slowed him down ten years ago. He would most want to be remembered for his love of family and animals; especially his faithful dog, "Sol" along with their cat "Dummy". Pete gave unselfishly of himself in everything he did. He is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Heather Thomas, Peter Thomas, Sean Thomas, Mikki and Jed Rodgers and Vassar Thomas; his three siblings, Jim Thomas, Janet White and Deborah Thomas; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.