Peter Louis Gitz Jr.'s Obituary
Peter Louis Gitz Jr., at the age of 88, entered eternal rest peacefully on Wednesday morning, November 29, 2023, at his family home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Madisonville, Louisiana on March 8, 1935, to Peter Louis Gitz Sr. and Ellen Raiford Gitz.
He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years Jo-Ann Bennett Gitz. His adoring children Peter Gitz III (Amy), Paul Gitz (Robin), Janet Gitz Casey (James), and Judy Gitz Yaple (Andrew). Peter was the proud grandfather of Ashlyn Gitz, Camden Gitz, Megan Gitz, Dillon Gitz, Cole Casey, Colin Casey, and Brynn Yaple. He was a caring brother of Raiford Gitz. Peter will be dearly missed by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, wonderful lifelong friends, and the Madisonville community.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents Peter and Ellen Gitz, and brothers Ronald Gitz and Terry Gitz.
A proud lifelong resident of Madisonville, Peter graduated from Covington High School in 1954. He worked in management at Prestressed Concrete Products retiring after 27 years with the company. He took over ownership of Badeaux’s Drive-In, famous for its hamburgers and milkshakes, in 1976.
He became Mayor of Madisonville in July 1976 and retired in 2016. His 40 years of service to the town of Madisonville came with many accomplishments and memorable moments: the building of the bulkhead on the riverfront, acquisition of the Madisonville Lighthouse and Lightkeepers house, being one of the originators of the Maritime Museum and the Wooden Boat Festival, bringing a regional-caliber library to Madisonville, which was later named after him, expansion of the town-owned natural gas service, and leadership after Hurricane Katrina, stories of the Silk Lady and the town’s iconic rooster Reveille. He was parishioner to St. Anselm Catholic Church his entire life.
Peter was loving, compassionate, and most of all a very caring person to all. He enjoyed spending time on his farm tending to his cattle and sheep and baling hay. However, his true passion was spending time with his loving family and friends. Peter was unique and irreplaceable, well-respected and liked, and will be deeply and dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. His jovial spirit and tender, humble nature will remain in the many memories of his cherished friends and family until they meet him again.
The Gitz family expresses their deepest gratitude to the outstanding care provided by St. Tammany Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider, memorial contributions in memory of Peter Louis Gitz Jr. can be made to: St. Tammany Library Foundation, P.O. Box 131, Mandeville, La 70470 or Maritime Museum Louisiana, 133 Mabel Dr., Madisonville, La 70447.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Catholic Funeral Mass at St. Anselm Catholic Church, 307 St. Mary Street, Madisonville, Louisiana 70447, on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 1:00 PM with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until service time. Interment will take place privately at a later time. All are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at 3:00 PM at the Town of Madisonville Reception Hall, 403 St. Francis Street, Madisonville, Louisiana.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, locally owned and operated, (985) 892-9222, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
The Gitz family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at E. J. Fielding Funeral Home Guest Book at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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