Gunther Paul Hans Peters, age 71, of Hiawassee, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. He was born on June 2, 1940 in Berlin, Germany to Theodore and Hildegard Peters. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 49 years, Helga Katzenberger Peters; a daughter, Susan Peters Brandvold of Johns Creek, Georgia; a son, Michael (Alicia) Peters of Bluffton, South Carolina and four adoring granddaughters, Jenna Brandvold, Emily Brandvold, Katelyn Carlin and Ella Grace Peters; two brothers, Klaus-Jurgen Peters, Christian Peters and two sisters, Urula Kerber and Ilse Muhling, all of Germany.
After leaving home at 15 to join the Merchant Marines, he arrived in the United States at the age of 18 and attended Houghton Academy in upstate New York. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he spent 30 years working for the IBM Corporation. While a long time resident of Boca Raton, Florida, he was active at Boca Raton Community Church (Bibletown) and the German-American Club of Palm Beaches. Retiring to Hiawassee in 1997, he remained active and was involved with McConnell Memorial Baptist Church. He was a soccer fan, loved music and cooking and had a gift for learning languages. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his sense of humor and his willingness to serve the Lord. He spent much of his time on mission trips and traveled throughout the U.S., Peru, Ecuador and Kyrgyzstan.
Services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2011 from the McConnell Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Reynolds officiating.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of his passion for missions, the family is requesting donations to :
Friends of Runa Simi, 3225 Wycliff Way, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Trails End Ranch, P.O Box 460, Ekalaka, MT 59324
Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800
Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee in charge of arrangements.