Pete Sturza passed away peacefully on Jan. 14, 2019 at his home in Hermiston with family at his side.
He was born on July 25, 1926 in Husum, Wash. to Louis and Violet Fehrenbacher Sturza.
They moved the family, Pete and his two brothers, Butch and Stanley, to Central Oregon where the boys went to school. Pete then enlisted in the Army in 1945, trained as a gunner, and was stationed in Hawaii while serving his country during World War II. Pete returned home to Central Oregon and married Karama “Faye” Rice. They had two sons, John and Joe Sturza, and later divorced.
Pete married Pauline Clay-Battles in February 1962 and raised Barbara and Robin, Pauline’s daughters, as his own. Daughter, Jill, was born in 1963. The family lived in Prineville, where Pete worked as a rancher, cowboy and cattleman. Pete rode good horses and worked good dogs, but always relied on his best horse, Ralph.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Crooked River Roundup in Prineville for 16 years. This included a term as president in 1971 and manager of the fairgrounds in 1979. In 1989, he was selected to be the Grand Marshal of the Crooked River Roundup. Pete continued from Central Oregon to utilize his vast knowledge and love of cattle while managing and operating livestock yards in Baker City, Vale, La Grande, Caldwell and Hermiston. His wife, Pauline passed away in 1998.
Pete later married Jean Fenton in 2002. They called Stanfield home, while they embarked on several memorable road trips and enjoyed family and friends. Pete enjoyed spending time with Jean’s two daughters, Cyndi and Marilyn. His wife, Jean passed away in 2008.
Through the heartache of outliving two wives, his brothers Evan “Butch” Sturza and Stanley Sturza, and several old friends and family, Pete continued to be the solid man he always had been. Pete loved to hunt with his friend Bob, looked forward to his daily visits with his friend Eddie, and going to the rodeos with his friend Herbie. He worked in his yard, fed and watered horses every day, and served his Lord until his last days, living to be 92. Pete was a man of good example, loved God, and believed in hard work and taking care of his family and friends until God called him home.
Pete is survived by sons, John Sturza and Joe Sturza; daughters, Jill Kenfield, Robin Sharp, Barbara Haide, Cyndi Harvey and Marilyn Dwy, and a daughter of his heart, niece, Rita McFarlane; 16 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Viewing will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
Viewing will also be held from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 150 E. First St., Prineville. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 12:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at 1 p.m.
Pete will be laid to rest next to Pauline Sturza at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019 in Juniper Haven Cemetery in Prineville.
There will be a celebration of life at the Hermiston Elks, 480 E. Main, on Jan. 26, 2019 at 1 p.m. (potluck style).
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 800-805-5856.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of final arrangements.
