Peter Kiewit Jr.

Peter Kiewit, Jr.
May 11, 1926 - Sept. 14, 2010
Peter Kiewit, Jr. age 84 passed away on September 14, 2010 while on vacation in Coronado, CA. The son of Mary Drake Kiewit and Peter Kiewit, he was born in Omaha, NE on May 11, 1926. Health issues brought the family on trips to The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield, Az. Subsequently, both he and his sister, Jeanne attended boarding schools in Arizona. Jeanne went to the Jokake School for Girls, in Phoenix and graduated from the University of Arizona, while Peter attended the Southern Arizona School for Boys, in Tucson, graduating in 3 years. He entered the University of Arizona in the fall of 1943 joining the Sigma Alfa Epsilon Fraternity prior to being drafted his first semester.

He entered the Army in 1944, serving our country, for 2 years during WWII as a paratrooper, partially with the 82nd Airborne Division.

In 1946 at 20 years of age he returned to the U of A to continue his pursuit of a B.S. degree in Business Administration, graduating in 1950.

His father was hopeful he would return to Omaha to the multigenerational family construction business, Peter Kiewit Son’s, Co., where he had worked summers. Instead, Peter chose his own career path and in 1951 enrolled in Law School at the U of A. He was admitted to practice law on November 10, 1953 and joined the firm of Rawlins, Davis, Christie, Kleinman and Burrus on November 3, 1953.

The firm evolved into Rawlins, Ellis, Burrus and Kiewit, dissolving on March 1, 1981. On April 1, 1981 Peter went with the firm of Wentworth and Lundin merging with Gallagher and Kennedy in September of 1987 and Served Of Counsel from 1981-May 11, 2001. He specialized in Construction Law working with General Contractors, Sub Contractors and Material Suppliers on the contracting side. His main client base was located in Arizona with national representation of some clients.

Armed with an education and legal expertise, at the frequent request of his father that he consider a position with Peter Kiewit Son’s, the two, after much discussion, agreed that Peter would serve as an Active Director on the Board, and did so for 36 years.

Allegiance to the U of A led him to serve on the Board of Directors of the U of A Foundation, member of the Leadership Committee on the Century 2 Foundation Campaign, Board member of the College of Law Foundation, and the National Board of Advisors for the College of Business.

He was a Founding Trustee for the Peter Kiewit Foundation from it’s inception until 2001. The Foundation was funded by an independent philanthropic trust created by the estate of his late father. The Trust, among other things, awards scholarships to high school graduates throughout Nebraska. Invited to membership in the Phoenix Thunderbirds, he served actively for 10 years becoming a Life Bird in 1969. He was also a member of the Mens Board of the Barrow Neurological Foundation.

He was a member of White Mountain Country Club and Paradise Valley Country Club. His love for the game of golf was enhanced with invitations to play the Augusta National Club Course, as a guest, for 15 years.

Married 36 years to his loving wife, Eve, they were able to travel the world, visiting all 7 continents and over 100 countries.

Predeceased by his parents, sister, Jeanne Taylor and the mother of his sons, Marion, he is survived by his wife, Eve, his 3 sons, Peter Kiewit IV (Faith), Drake Kiewit (Colleen), his children, Jesse and Whitney Kiewit, Tod Kiewit and his children, Chelsea, Hayley and Lexa Kiewit, 3 nieces, and Eve’s children, Joy Kinnaman (Royce), Gay Kvilhaug (Dan), Kip Thompson (Beth), Arthur Luhrs (JoAnne) and Eve’s grandchildren, Kyle, Kory, Kyra, and Katelyn Thompson, Eric and Shelley Kvilhaug, and Jessica and Allen Luhrs II, who all knew Peter as their grandfather.

At his request, Private Services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724

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