Gary Lee Peter, age 81, of Manhattan, passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Home of the Flint Hills.

He was born on February 24, 1944, in Manhattan, the son of Kenneth Edwin and Maxine Louise (Hagenmaier) Peter.  He grew up on the family farm northwest of Randolph and attended Randolph Grade School and graduated from Blue Valley Randolph High School in 1962, where he played football and was the senior class treasurer.

Following his high school years, Gary went to work as a carpenter, building many fine homes in Manhattan, Randolph, Clay Center and Wakefield.

Gary was a member of the Randolph United Methodist Church and Trustee Treasurer for many years.  He was an adviser member of the Leonardville Nursing Home, representing the church.  His other memberships included the Randolph Masonic Lodge #166 until it closed and then transferred membership to Clay Center Masonic Lodge #134 and a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association.  He loved to hunt in his earlier years and target shoot in his later years.

In 1966, he married Sue Erickson.  She preceded him in death in 1967.  To this union was born a daughter, Janelle. 

In 1975, Gary married the love of his life, Judy Schraeder.  Judy brought two daughters to the marriage, and he adopted those two daughters, Jody and Sandra, and Judy adopted Gary’s daughter Janelle.  In 1979, the family was blessed with another daughter, Lori.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Peter of Manhattan: four daughters, Janelle Zimmer and husband Bryan of Omaha, Nebraska; Jody Hodges, and husband Tom of Wamego; Sandra Ash and husband Jeff of Omaha, Nebraska; and Lori Birney and husband Eric of Omaha, Nebraska: two brothers, Ron Peter and wife Ruby of Randolph, and Duane Peter and wife Linda of Liberty, Missouri: one sister, Diane Sullivan and husband Allan Curtis of Lakewood, Colorado: six grandchildren, Ciara Chaney (Clark), Rob Merry (Stacy), Tyler Zimmer (Katie), Tim Merry (Lauren), Mason Ash, and Caleb Ash, and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Randolph Community Church with Pastor Rick Fennell officiating.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 pm Monday at the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Randolph Fancy Creek Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Randolph Community Church and left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home, PO Box 176, Riley, KS 66531.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.apfunerals.com.