Peter M. Zoernig was born on November 12, 1962, to Robert Zoernig, and Shirley Allen Zoernig. He had four brothers, Emelio, Kevin, Lawrence and David, and two sisters, Margaret "Jesse" and Kristin. Peter was an amazing artist and planned to go to art school. In 1979, when Peter was in high school, he was working summer construction and fell 5 stories down an elevator shaft, breaking 9 bones, including shattering his right wrist. Peter spent over 4 months in the hospital, but upon his release, he was walking on crutches in no time, and was still able to graduate from West High School a year early. Peter studied painting and printmaking at Kansas City Art Institute, KCMO. Peter studied audio recording and music production at The Recording Workshop. Peter played guitar and sang, and released a few CDs. While living in New York City for seven years, he often volunteered at the free concerts in Central Park, and attended many tapings of The Late Show With David Letterman. Peter then moved south and spent 20 years in the rural Ozarks of Missouri. A few years after his mother died, Peter moved into her house in New Mexico. Due to too many physical issues relating to his accidental fall years ago, Peter had many more surgeries over the years. He died in May 2021 at the age of 58. Peter never recovered from severe allergic reactions to the 2nd Moderna COVID vaccine dose. The Medical examiner says the cause of death was pyelonephritis - severe kidney infection. She says he would not be likely to end up with such an infection if he had been more mobile and attributes the ultimate cause of death to "blunt trauma", because the elevator fall put him in a condition that he would be subject to kidney infections. Even though the blunt trauma occurred in 1979.

All who know Peter, know his incredible intelligence, creativity, strength, and passion. Peter was an artist, musician, writer, friend to many . . . and an inspiring all-around person. He faced rather extreme pain and difficulty in his life with such incredible strength, honesty, dignity and composure. One of our friends put it so well: "We would be wise to ask ourselves "what would Peter do" as we go through life's challenges."
He will be greatly missed!

Peter is survived by his siblings, Emilio Torres and his wife, Adrienne Inglis and their two sons, Walter and Martín Torres, Kevin Zoernig and his children, Jared and Tauby Mintz, and Kevin's wife, Corinna Laszlo Henry and their children, Amelia, Lucinda, and Henry, Jesse Zoernig and her wife, Cecile McKee, Kristin Zoernig, and David Zoernig and his husband, Calvin Hefner, and many cousins and friends.

Obituary:
Peter Zoernig

formerly Sioux City

With profound sadness, we announce the passing in May 2021 of our beloved brother, Peter Michael Zoernig, born in Sioux City, Iowa, and concluding his rich life in Las Vegas, N.M.

A service was held at Peace St. Paul's Church in Las Vegas, N.M., in June 2021

An accident during a high school summer job left Peter paraplegic. He chose to get on his feet and move on.

He graduated from Sioux City's West High School, followed that with a Kansas City Art Institute diploma, and a recording engineer certification.

Peter pursued diverse undertakings, typically rigorously, with a spirit unencumbered by convention. He engineered and produced multiple albums, enjoyed performing, gardening, and nature's beauty.

Peter was complicated, scrupulous, and humorous which manifested in his painting, writing, and musical endeavors.

He became wheelchair bound in recent years and that led to debilitating health issues. This past year presented more obstacles than Peter could overcome.

He is survived by siblings, Emilio, Kevin, Jesse, Kristin, and David; their spouses; and nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley Lou Allen and Robert Joseph Zoernig, and his brother Lawrence.

We are grateful and blessed to have loved and been loved by this extraordinary man.

Published by Sioux City Journal on Sep. 5, 2021.