Peter Aloysius "Pete" Himmelheber

Peter Aloyisus Himmelheber, 83, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2022 at George Washington Hospital Center with his family by his side. Pete was born January 15, 1939 in Washington, DC, to Merrie (Childrey) and Charles Himmelheber. The family moved to St Mary’s County where he and his four siblings were raised. Pete was in the first graduating class (1957) of Ryken High School. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in electrical engineering. Pete attended Naval Officer Training School and spent the next three years in the US Navy, ending active duty as a missile ordnance officer on the USS Reeves. In January 1965, he married the former Mary Lillian Fenwick and they raised four daughters. Pete was a life-long Roman Catholic and was an active member of Our Lady’s Catholic Church. He worked as a civil servant at Webster Field, St Inigoes after being honourably discharged from the navy. After his retirement in 1995, Pete began volunteering with Historic St. Mary’s City (HSMC). He was a docent and interpreter at HSMC and Sotterly Mansion. He led over 950 tours at HSMC and crafted the wrought iron cross for the chapel there. Pete was awarded the Cross Bottony for service to HSMC. Pete was also an avid land records researcher and was a board member of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society. He edited and contributed to their publication, “Chronicles of St. Mary’s”. Pete enjoyed sharing his vast historical knowledge with anyone willing to listen. In addition to his volunteer work, his hobbies included blacksmithing, sand casting, cooperage, and restoring old farm engines. Pete was predeceased by his parents and his infant brother William. He is survived by his loving wife, Lillie, and his daughters Becky Rice (Michael), Diane Lood (Jonas), Nancy Himmelheber, and Susan McDonough (Matthew); his grandchildren Eva Lood, Britta Lood, Alexander Rice, Nicholas Rice, Callie McDonough, Jonas Peter Lood, and William McDonough; and his siblings Jerry Himmelheber, Anne Shirley, Merrie Ruth Raley, and Eve Love. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD, where prayers and recitation of the rosary will begin at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at Our Lady’s Catholic Church at Medley’s Neck, Leonardtown, MD. Interment will follow at Our Lady’s Church Cemetery, Leonardtown, MD. Serving as pallbearers will be Alexander Rice, Nicholas Rice, Jonas Peter Lood, William McDonough, Joe Fenwick, and Robert Groat. Honorary pallbearers will be J. Ernest Bell, Alfred Gough, Ray Long, Robert Russell, William Russell, Robert Wigginton, and Ray Wise. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pete’s name to the St. Mary’s County Historical Society or the Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad. Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.