Peter Glenn Shoun

Peter Glenn Shoun, 67, of Chicago's Northwest Side passed away September 27, 2025 while surrounded by loved ones and listening to his favorite symphony, Mahler's 5th in C-Sharp Minor. 

He leaves behind his beloved husband Rolland Rahr, with whom he shared his life for over 40 years; cherished siblings Elizabeth (Curtis) Shoun-Lavender of Belleville, WI, Ellie (Carl) Mudrick of Honolulu, HI, Paul Shoun of Chicago, IL and Deborah (Torbern) Staalek of Klintehamn, Sweden; nieces and a nephew with whom he was very close, and a host of dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Ellen Shoun. 

Peter was born February 11, 1958 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Bronson (MI) High School as valedictorian in 1976. He went on to study at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, graduating in 1980, and then received his master’s degree in flute performance from Northwestern University. Following school, he was a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra for a season. His and Rolland's passion for music was a special bond that lasted his lifetime. He loved attending symphony performances and listening to classical and jazz music. 

Peter enjoyed a 31-year career as an American Airlines Flight Attendant. He became a Swedish speaker for the airlines after having learned the language from the time he had spent with family in Sweden in the early 1980s. He flew primarily to Stockholm in the early years of his career. After the route to Stockholm was discontinued, his international trips took him mostly to London and Manchester. He had many fun stories to tell about his overseas adventures.

One of Peter's most loved pursuits was making delicious sourdough bread. He frequently made an extra loaf to share with family and friends. His other favorite hobbies included growing heirloom tomatoes and native flowers in his gardens, home brewing, and walking or running, including running two Chicago Marathons. He also enjoyed attending nieces' and nephew’s performances, making his famous cherry pie, which often included his own homegrown cherries and spending time at their river cottage on his beloved St. Joseph River in Niles, MI. He also loved spending time with Rolland, members of the Lambda Car Club, and their vintage cars. He was a member for 34 years and loved driving his '93 Miata to events. Peter had a great love of language, was very witty and had a knack for pulling unexpected, funny thoughts out of thin air. He loved to play Scrabble, "Words with Friends" and enjoyed playing Wordle daily. He was also very politically involved and took great pride in working as an election official in Niles, Michigan. He also leaves behind his beloved cat, Bernie, named in honor of his favorite politician, Bernie Sanders.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, Dec 13, 2025 at Three Crowns Park 2323 McDaniel Ave Evanston,IL at 2pm.

Peter was taken too soon by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, (aka CJD) which was diagnosed in June. CJD is a very rare, rapidly progressing neurological disease with no cure or treatment. There are only approximately 350 people diagnosed in the United States each year, or roughly 1 in 1,000,000. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Peter's memory to the CJD Foundation in Akron, OH https://cjdfoundation.org/donate/ . The CJD Foundation is a valuable resource for both professionals and families impacted by this devastating disease. Among other things, they award grants to researchers hoping to develop a treatment or cure for CJD. They also are a great source of education and support for families who unexpectedly find themselves facing this diagnosis in a loved one.

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL