Peter Ernest Loewenstein, veteran, helped others
Peter Ernest Loewenstein, 83, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2025, at home in Millsboro. His wife and two of his sisters were with him. Pete once wondered if his parents, Fritz and Virginia Loewenstein, were aliens—their kindness, generosity, and love were so extraordinary and boundless, along with their insatiable curiosity about the world and how their children viewed the world. It’s clear that Peter inherited those virtues. He was the firstborn of the Loewenstein children. Next came Mary, who became a teacher and is a gifted artist. Then, Suzanne, who had a career in the newspaper industry. Joan, the youngest, was an award-winning teacher. Minh Nguyen joined the family in the ‘70s, after coming to America from his native Vietnam.
Peter graduated from Salesianum High School in Wilmington and University of Delaware. He served in the Army and, after his service, became a surveyor. One of his favorite projects was Interstate 95 across Delaware.
The love of Peter’s life was his wife Joan, and they were married for 59 years. They “got serious” after Peter’s sisters set them up. It was election night, and they asked him to drive Joan to the polling place because she didn’t have access to a car. They claimed they were tired and ready for bed, and to prove that, they had towels on their heads and were wearing bathrobes. Pete and Joan were wonderful, loving partners, and to eliminate confusion about the two Joans in the family, Peter’s wife was affectionately renamed Joan Mc; her maiden name was McDowell.
One day on his way to work, Peter got a flat tire and, as he recalled, nobody on the highway near Wilmington stopped to help him. He went home later and told Joan he didn’t want to live in a place where nobody wanted to help people. So, they moved to Roxana, in Sussex County, where their network of close friends blossomed and sustained them through some very difficult days. Peter started a successful surveying business, which he sold a couple of years after their son, Edward, died in a tragic car accident in 1992. Their daughter, Freda, died in 2013.
As a hobby, Peter started woodworking several years ago, and he created stunning tables and serving boards. Even as his Parkinson’s symptoms progressed, he never stopped his woodworking, nor did he stop thinking about the world. He wanted to further research into Parkinson’s and directed that his brain be donated to Harvard, where researchers are studying the disease and possible cures. Even in death, he remained dedicated to helping others.
He was engaged with his family and his community, and never lost his sly, subtle humor. Peter loved people and animals, and throughout his life, he was never far from his precious dogs and cats. His survivors include his wife; sisters, Mary and her husband Les, Suzanne and her husband Guy, and Joan and her husband Chris; his brother, Minh and his wife Kim; as well as a grandson, nieces and nephews, and several grand-nieces and -nephews. He is also survived by his sweet dog, Libby, and cats, Hans and Fritz.
Visitation will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at Long Neck Methodist Church, 32051 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, with a Celebration of Life Ceremony at noon. A reception will follow at Amvets Post 2, 32592 Long Neck Road, Millsboro.
The staff at AccentCare Hospice in Milford were true partners with Joan as she cared for Peter.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to AccentCare Hospice, 416 Williams St., Ste. 33, Milford, DE 19963, would be appreciated.
As Peter’s beloved Bruce Springsteen said, “We honor our parents by carrying their best forward and laying the rest down.” And that he did.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting melsonfuneralservices.com.
