Peter John Kores, 81, of Cleveland, passed away on Friday September 9, 2022, at Aurora Hospital in Sheboygan. He had recently undergone treatment for cancer and succumbed to complications of COVID-19.
Peter was born April 3, 1941, in Appleton to Peter & Lucille (nee Kegel) Kores and graduated from Green Bay East High School. He earned his bachelor’s at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 1967, and his master’s at the University of Wisconsin – Stout in 1972. In between these degrees he traveled extensively across Europe and spent time working in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where he loved to ski. Upon returning to the US, he volunteered for many months with the Red Cross assisting in disaster relief in Corpus Christi, TX, after Hurricane Cecilia. It was there he married Jane Gutknecht. They would eventually settle back in Wisconsin to restore the old farmhouse where they raised their children. He completed his education at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, earning his PhD in 1982. Peter went on to work as a school psychologist but still found time to split wood, learn to raise sheep and comb auto salvage yards in search of obscure German replacement parts for his used cars. There was no DIY project he wouldn’t take on, especially if it was a challenge.
After his divorce, he designed and built a second home for himself and sold the surrounding lots to create a land development. He enjoyed traveling to visit his longtime girlfriend, Nikki Smith, in Chicago, where they attended cultural events almost every weekend. They also traveled to several continents, halted only by the pandemic. He worked for the Sheboygan Area Schools District for over three decades and continued to work in private practice for many years thereafter, only retiring at the age of 79. Peter never stopped being active: he was very proud of everywhere he skied at the age of 80 with his son and even took his grandchildren for a boat ride just weeks before his passing. Despite his ailing health he was smiling.
He is survived by his son Peter, of Atlanta, GA, his daughter Emily, of Croton on Hudson, NY; sisters MaryJo (Gary) Weisman, of Canton, ME; Suzy (Gary) Bergel, of Kearneysville, WV and Elizabeth (David) Goldfarb, of Staten Island, NY; brothers Paul Kores of North Castle, NZ, and Tommy Kores, of Amberg, WI; as well as two grandchildren.
His father, mother and sister Carol Jean preceded him in death. A family celebration of life will be held the summer of 2023 in Colorado, a place Peter enjoyed visiting so much. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his favorite charity, the St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.
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