Peter John Roake

Peter "Pete" John Roake

October 4, 1940 - March 17, 2026

Pete was born and raised in Portland, Oregon where he graduated from Cleveland High School. While in high school, he was a ski instructor at Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood, Oregon. He attended and graduated from Oregon State University with two degrees; one in Mathematics and one in Business Administration. He pledged Beta Theta Pi his freshman year. His sophomore year met the love of his life, Marni Nelson, and they were together from that year forward. After college he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army. He successfully completed Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia and Mountain Climbing School at Fort Carson, Colorado. Following his honor discharge, he went to work for State Farm Insurance Companies in the Investment Department at the home office in Bloomington, IL. While there, he received his MBA at Bradley University. The next chapter in his life was Wall Street in New York where he worked as an arbitrage trader for Smith Barney & Company. Those were hectic years prompting a move to Fort Walton Beach, Florida where he became a successful State Farm Agent for 37 years. During this chapter, he became a Paul Harris Fellow and served as president of the Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club and also the president of the Okaloosa County Mental Health Association. Retirement was spent traveling the world, fishing, duck hunting, alligator hunting and being a fabulous handy man around the house. Through all of these chapters, Pete had a fantastic sense of humor that kept his family smiling and he was known to laugh the loudest at his own jokes. He was a powerful example for his children by teaching them the importance of honesty, good morals, a strong work ethic and the art of both working hard and playing hard. He was proceeded in death by his parents Robert & Jeanette Roake, his parents-in-law Edwin & Rhona Nelson and his niece, Alexandra Inskeep. He is survived by his wife of 62+ years, Marni, his children Dr. Brian Roake (Leslie), Ash Roake (Vivi), Jenni Nowak (Blaiss) and his grandchildren Trevor & Gavin, Lila & Isla, Olivia, Zoe, Sophia, & Siena, his sisters Judith Perry and Jill Inskeep (John), his brothers in law Scott Nelson (Ann) and Greg Nelson, nephews and nieces, Victor Perry (Karen), Robert Inskeep, Nicole Inskeep, Alex Braconi (Mark), Chris Nelson (Milena), and Kara Francis.

As per Pete's wishes, a private family memorial service will be conducted in Portland, Oregon where he will be interred at the Portland Memorial Mausoleum.

If anyone would like to donate in his memory, please consider:

Trinity United Methodist Church

403 Racetrack Rd. NW

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Children in Crisis

100 Luke's Way

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547