Peter Franz Bank

1917 - 2017

May 16, 1917 - November 2, 2017 Peter Franz Bank, passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, on November 2, 2017, with loving family by his side. He was 100 years old. Peter was born on May 16, 1917 to Max and Paula Bank, in Vienna, Austria. In 1938, following the Nazi annexation of Austria and increased Jewish persecution, Peter fled Vienna to Italy before immigrating to the U.S. to Springfield, Illinois. Peter attended the University of Illinois, graduated in 1941 with high honors and three degrees, and passed the Illinois examination for Certified Public Accountants to become the youngest C.P.A. in the U.S at that time. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Army, was trained as an intelligence officer at Camp Ritchie, Maryland and served in Europe during WWII, ultimately earning the rank of First Lieutenant. After the close of the war, while assigned in Bremen, Germany, Peter met his future wife, Elke (Heims). They married in Los Angeles in 1947. Together, Peter and Elke raised their two daughters in Los Angeles; Peter in private practice as a C.P.A. and Elke as a singer in the Roger Wagner Chorale and a travel agent. Both Peter and Elke loved to ski and travel the world. They've passed those joys, their love and devotion to family, and their strong appreciation for their cultures on to their loving family. Peter placed a high value on education and had an avid interest in world history, geography, and current affairs. He will be remembered for his unconditional kindness, his patience and compassion, his generosity, and his unshakable graciousness of spirit that inspired everyone who met him. He will be remembered for his wide and warm smile, and cheerful "Hellooos!" He will be honored for his strong values and positive impact on so many people. Peter was a loving, devoted, and supportive son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, father-in-law and friend. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy will be with us, always. Peter is survived by his daughters, Eileen (Ian) Skone-Rees and Lorita (Eric) Morgenthaler and grandchildren, Marc and Erica Skone-Rees, and Matthew and Andrew Morgenthaler. Services will be held at Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, where he will be buried next to his beloved wife Elke, who passed away in 1991. Memories may be shared at www.mountsinaiparks.org. Donations may be made to the Jewish Federation of LA or the Jewish Healing and Hospice Center of LA (www.jhcla.org).