Peter Veldman

South Bend – Peter Veldman, 87, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Monday, March 3, 2014, surrounded by family. Pete was born on April 4, 1926, in Didam, the Netherlands, to Bernard and Wilhelmina Veldman. Pete was preceded in death by his siblings, Wilhelmina Coenan, Ben Veldman, and June Wynen, his daughter, Audrey, and granddaughter, Allison Edmonds. Pete is survived by Wilma, his loving wife of 61 years, children, Thomas (Anita) Veldman, David (Linda) Veldman, Connie (Michael) Joines, Sharon (Matthew) Edmonds, Marcia Veldman, and Mark Veldman. Also surviving Pete are 20 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and his siblings, Dolly Ensing; Rieka Seesing; Al (Elizabeth) Veldman; Ted (Theresa) Veldman; Mary (Hank) Goris; Fran (Frank) Beidinger; Willy (Joyce) Veldman; and Henry (Mary) Veldman. Pete immigrated to the United States in 1949 and served with the US Army in the Korean War from 1950 to 1952. Pete, Wilma, and Pete's siblings operated various businesses on the west side of South Bend from 1956 until 1979. Pete was a founder and principal of Tire Rack, an ecommerce distributor of tires and wheels. Pete loved interacting with Tire Rack employees and customers - so much so, that he never quit working. His enthusiasm for life, optimistic outlook, and sense of humor will be dearly missed. Pete and Wilma have been long time, active parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church and, later, Christ the King Catholic Church. Visitation for Pete will be at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana on Wednesday, March 5, 2014; from 2 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2014, at Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, IN, where Military Services will be conducted. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Holy Cross Mission Center, P.O. Box 543, Notre Dame, 46556 or the Women's Care Center, 360 N. Notre Dame Ave., South Bend, 46617. To send condolences, please visit, www.kaniewski.com. *Due to the large amount of visitors attending the visitation, their will be additional parking available at the North side of Meijer parking lot. Shuttles will take visitors to and from the visitation.