Peter N. Tietgens, 71

CHESHIRE, Mass. —  Peter N. Tietgens, 71, of Danville, Vermont and formerly of Cheshire, Massachusetts died peacefully on Saturday, January 6, 2024, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Pete was born in North Adams, Massachusetts on November 15, 1952, to Anne (Dooling) Tietgens and the late Peter Tietgens. He attended schools in Pittsfield and Adams, graduating from Adams Memorial High School in 1970.

Pete married his high school sweetheart Christine (Lemanski) on November 2, 1974. They were happily married for nearly 50 years and lived most of their life together in Cheshire, before moving to Vermont to be closer to their grandchildren. They also spent many winters in Tucson, Arizona where they stayed with his sister Suzi and her husband Bob and enjoyed many hunting adventures and a break from the cold northeast winters.

Pete began his career as a thoroughbred horse trainer at Green Mountain Park in Pownal, Vermont and was the youngest trainer at the Park at the time. He attended Oklahoma Farrier School, where he learned blacksmithing and horseshoeing. Following the close of Green Mountain Park, Pete continued to train horses at Finger Lakes Race Track in New York and Rockingham Park in New Hampshire from 1970 to 1984. During this time Pete and his father owned and trained numerous race horses and his brother-in-law, Steve Kisielewski was a jockey.
Pete went on to become a talented craftsman, creating his own business making countertops, cabinets and other custom work. He also enjoyed building hand crafted furniture and created beautiful custom pieces for his home and his grandchildren.

Pete was an avid sportsman and enjoyed an annual elk hunting trip to Colorado with close friends, as well as numerous trips out west. In retirement, his wife Chrissy joined him and they too enjoyed many trips out west, along with memorable trips to Alaska and Africa where they hunted big game. Pete was also an accomplished fisherman and Charter Boat Captain, chartering many trips on Lake Ontario and the Hudson River catching trophy striped bass, king salmon and brown trout. He participated in many fishing derbies with good friends, and especially enjoyed the annual LCI Father’s Day derby on Lake Champlain. Pete also loved fishing with his grandsons on many of the lakes and ponds across northeastern Vermont.

Pete is survived by his dear mother Anne (Dooling) Tietgens, his beloved wife Christine (Lemanski), his daughter Cody Leibold and her husband Jonathan, his cherished grandchildren Olivia, Kolton, Connor, Case, and step-grandchildren Kyle and Craig. He is also survived by his sisters Patricia Kisielewski, Mary Seppala, Suzi King and her husband Bob, sister-in-law Susan Barthe, brothers-in-law Michael Lemanski and his wife Lynne, Bill Lemanski and his wife Theresa, as well as several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pete will also be greatly missed by many longtime friends with whom he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Pete is predeceased by his father, Peter Tietgens and by his brother-in-law Steve Kisielewski.

Funeral services will be held in the spring on a date to be announced.

The PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St., Adams, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston either online at www.dana-farber.org or by mail, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.

To leave a message of condolence, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com.