Obituary
Peter Albert Konneker

Peter Albert Konneker, 93, of Carlinville, Illinois and Clayton, North Carolina, passed away on 13 August 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. His memorial service will be at Wilson’s Mills Christian Church on Saturday, the 30th of August at 3 p.m. Reverend Lea Slaton will officiate. The address is 179 Fire Department Road, Clayton, NC 27527. Pete’s remains were cremated. There will be a graveside service in the fall in Carlinville. Peter Albert Konneker was born on the farm in Carlinville, Illinois to William Otto and Opal (nee Leefers) Konneker on July 8th, 1932. He attended Rural Elementary school and joined 4H where he et the love of his life, Rachel Clare Loehr. He graduated from Carlinville High School in 1950. He left Carlinville for the University of Illinois and returned home to marry Rachel at her family farm in June of 1952. Pete was a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity and attained Bronze Tablet academic status by being at the top of his class. He graduated in 1954 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering and was admitted into the Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering society. Immediately after graduation he received a commission in the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant and proceeded to Mariana, Florida for primary pilot training. Then he was assigned to advanced pilot training flying T-6s at Reese AFB in Lubbock, Texas where he graduated first in his class and was assigned as a multi-engine instructor pilot in the B-25. Pete’s next assignment was to Yokota AFB near Tokyo, Japan where he flew the RB-57. From there, the Air Force sent him to get a master’s degree in electrical engineering back at the University of Illinois. He used that degree in a short engineering assignment managing the EC/RC-135 program at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio flying C-47s for currency. He then completed a combat tour in Vietnam flying the B-57. By then, he had 6 children and moved the family to Fort Walton Beach, assigned to Eglin and Hurlburt AFBs flying F-4s and T-33s. His final tour of duty was at the Pentagon working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he retired in the rank of LtCol after 23 years of service. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, numerous Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. Pete’s second career was as a plant engineer and plant manager for a telephone cable manufacturer. He was employed in Monticello, Illinois, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and finally Clayton, North Carolina where he retired as a loving husband tending to a large garden enjoying life as a father, grandfather and great grandfather. Pete was preceded in death by his best friend, partner in life, mother of his children and wife of 68 years, Rachel Clare Konneker nee Loehr. He was the last surviving member of the Otto and Opal Konneker family. Both his parents, his sister Irene and his two brothers Donald and Arthur preceded him in death. Peter and Rachel were survived by all six of their children and their spouses who will attend his memorial service together. They are Claudia Klesert (Tony), Lloyd Konneker (Deborah), Becky McFall (Donald), Neal Konneker (Melissa), David Konneker (Donette), and John Konneker (Camille). Those children are the proud parents of Pete and Rachel’s ten grandchildren, Joe Klesert, Alicia Konneker Nielsen, David Klesert, Kate McFall Heins, Thomas Konneker, Peter Konrad Konneker, Dena Konneker Stevens, Adam Konneker, William McFall, and Zoie Konneker. Their great grandchildren are Milo and Owen Klesert; Tanner, Kendall and Michaela Gillispie; Evelyn, Bridget and Grant Nielsen; Sean and Talia Klesert; Clara and Henry Heins; Ralph Konneker; Rachel, Andrew and Wesley Konneker; Anna Stevens; and Leo, Gryffin, and Rook Konneker. Pete’s family would like to thank all their friends and extended family for their support during this time of grieving and remembrance. Memorials should be given to the Wilsons Mills Christian Church in Clayton North Carolina.