Peter Lossl Corwin was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, Jan. 25, 1937, and moved countless times throughout his childhood around the Puget Sound area.
Though he experienced danger and instability throughout his growing up years, he found moments of enjoyment and respite, hiding for hours at age seven while reading books in the Seattle Freemont Library and as a nine year old, finding solace in faith and music as he sang with the Seattle Catholic Church choir, soloing Ave Maria. Finally, at 12 old he was alone, living homeless on the streets of Capitol Hill in Seattle. Then, as one of Peter's sons says, "Despite being given poor examples himself, at 13 years of age he made a decision to not follow in the footsteps of evil. It was a man's decision that set him on a path to build a legacy." With a fortitude and foresight beyond his age, Pete decided to pursue a life different from his parents. Decades later, he said, "I wanted to live out in the open, in the light." Forced to live in Idaho with his father, Pete found a job and worked every day after high school, setting pins at a bowling alley until 11:30 at night, walking five miles home from his job. Throughout high school, music and reading continued to be his passions and means of escape from home. He participated in school musicals, was an excellent dancer, excelled in athletics and eventually scored top of his class in academic assessment exams in his senior year.
Once graduated, Pete joined the United States military from 1954 to 1957, and served in counter intelligence and cryptography during the Korean War, supporting spy planes while stationed on St. Lawrence Island, eight miles off the Siberian coast. While attending college on the GI Bill, Peter met his future wife of nearly 60 years, Janet' Frances Gabbert. Pete and Janet' married Jan. 31st, 1959, both still attending college and celebrated their honeymoon with a meager $10. Two years later, a fire broke out in their apartment complex in Moscow, Idaho, Pete running through the smoke to rescue their firstborn infant daughter, Lisa (Corwin) Voetberg. All their belongings were burnt but friendly community members donated some items to help the young family rebuild. Undeterred, Pete and Janet' left Moscow and moved to Centralia, where Pete, now graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in music education, accepted the job of choir teacher at Centralia Middle School and Janet', also graduating with a degree in education, also taught in Centralia.
Wanting to put down roots and give his children the home, community, and stability he lacked as a child, Pete and Janet' chose to live in Centralia for their entire married life (almost 60 years), where he and Janet' intentionally created a safe home and open table for their six children, as well as friends and community members in need. One son, commenting on his father's sincere generosity says, "He didn't have much, but he had food." And so he gave what he had. There was always an open chair at Corwin family dinners, sitting to the left of Pete's chair and together, Pete and Janet' hosted countless friends and families, including over 50 international students and immigrant and refugee families. One son comments, "I grew up in Centralia and had... the United Nations in my home."
Pete directed the Centralia middle school choir from 1961 to 1967, then left teaching to pursue other means of provision. Motivated by feeding his six young children, Pete worked hard to build his own Farmer's Insurance business in 1976, going through the phone book in the evenings asking community members to quote their insurance. With dedication and hard work, Pete's business succeeded, receiving many awards over 30 years of operation including the Farmer's Insurance Unsung Hero Award for community service which was sponsored by the Seattle Mariners and awarded in person by Seattle Mariner's radio announcer Dave Niehaus. He was famous for his casual "business" attire, attending meetings in shorts and commenting he dressed to be a part of his community, and to be ever ready for a round of golf. In 2004, Pete began to work alongside his daughter, Renee Corwin-Rey, finally retiring in 2008, and passing ownership to her as she began her own Farmer's Insurance Agency. After retirement, he still came to the office every day until the year before he passed away, enjoying the interactions with clients and employees, many of whom recall the difference he made in their lives through his input and advice.
Pete's love of athletics continued from high school throughout his entire life. He was an avid golfer and for years the excellent slow pitch pitcher for the local Rainier Beer slow pitch team. He coached his three son's Little League baseball teams, was a runner and throughout his life enjoyed daily swims at the local pool. Many of his 24 grandchildren participated in sports in Centralia and received the constant support of his and Janet's presence in the bleachers as Pete and Janet attended countless games and matches, rain or shine.
The love of music which was planted in his troubled childhood bore much fruit throughout his life. While graduating with a degree in music education, Pete taught himself to read music and play piano, trombone and various instruments. Pete and Janet' played classical music and musicals on record players for their children, raising them without television and many of those children are musical, as well as most of their 24 grandchildren. Pete worshipped with the Centralia First Presbyterian choir, was a member of the local Two Town Tuners barbershop quartet and sang as a soloist at various weddings and funerals. An avid supporter of his kids and grandchildren's musical endeavors, Pete and Janet' attended countless piano recitals and concerts, even traveling out of state to hear grandchildren compete and perform. Despite poor health, Pete wanted to spend his last Christmas season attending all four of his daughter and grandchildren's Voetberg Family Christmas concerts and one of his last moments awake on earth was spent hearing his great grandchildren sing in his hospital room, continuing the legacy he began as a choir boy in Seattle.
Wanting to give to the community that gave so much to him, Peter remained in local public service throughout his life, actively involved in the Lion's Club, long time member of the local Young Life committee, served as National Director for Washington State for the United State Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees), supporter of the local Possibilities Women's Center and worked on the board for the Hub Sports Center, among other local endeavors. Pete also served as city commissioner from 1984 to 1986 and on city council from 1994 to 1997. He was then elected mayor of Centralia during a unique time in the history of Centralia as during the 1996 to 1997 term, Pete and the town welcomed President Bill Clinton on his 1996 campaign tour and during the winter months, as the community struggled to overcome devastating floods, Pete worked around the clock at city hall to coordinate city efforts of flood management and recovery.
Pete (his high school, college buddies and family called him Lossl, but community members remember him as Pete) passed away Jan. 13, 2019, leaving behind his wife of nearly 60 years, Janet' Frances Gabbert Corwin; six children, Lisa Voetberg, Renee Corwin Rey, Mary Moffitt, Christopher Corwin, Jeremy Corwin and Mark Corwin; and 24 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He taught his children to work hard, serve their community and be passionate and educated in pursuing their interests. He said there was no need to make excuses and "You make your own decisions", his daughter says he taught. "And you cannot blame your past, your childhood, your teachers, or anyone... (for) the decisions you choose to make as an adult." Pete was quick to recognize and sacrificially help those around him in need. Neighbor kids with difficult family situations or immigrant families without a home received his practical, self sacrificing generosity and interest. Among many things, he is remembered as a man of hard work, integrity, intellect and humor, generous to his community, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and interested in the welfare of others.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, at Harrison Square Presbyterian Church, 1227 Harrison Ave., Centralia, Wash. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Possibilities Women's Center, 1017 W. Main St., Centralia, and the Centralia College Foundation, 600 Centralia College Blvd., where they will be used for music scholarships in Pete's honor.
