Deceased: 2020-06-30
Diocese: OMAHA
Seminary Graduation Year: 1960
CSM Graduation Year: 1966
Rev. Valentine J. Peter, “Val, November 20, 1934 – June 30, 2020
Preceded in death by parents, Anne Marie and Carl J. Peter; brothers, Rev. Carl J. Peter and Dr. James B. Peter. Survived by sister, Mary Ann Peter Hohman and husband, Robert; many loving nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Also survived by his brother priests.
Interment, St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Boys Town Dowd Chapel.Valentine Peter was no stranger to the Omaha community or the troubles it faced. As an Omaha native born in 1934, he attended Holy Cross Grade School and Creighton Preparatory High School before discovering his calling to the priesthood in his teenage years. After graduating from high school, Peter attended Immaculate Conception Seminary in Conception, Missouri and Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. In 1966, the young priest returned to Nebraska with two doctoral degrees in Theology and Canon Law.
His life’s next calling was to teach. At St. John Seminary in Elkhorn, College of Saint Mary in Omaha, and finally, Creighton University, Peter was able to spread his love of the faith to the Omaha community. In 1985, he received a new calling that he never imagined—To serve as the fourth Executive Director of Boys Town®. Building on the foundation of his predecessors, Peter knew the new direction of the organization was to move toward exciting changes and great expansion.
With the new residential programs in place, Peter looked toward the care of children in the future. This led to the creation of the Boys Town Continuum of Care; therefore, as new childcare technologies were developed, updated programs would be implemented to care for each child’s unique situation. At the core of this new continuum of care would be four new Family-Based Programs, which were developed in 1988. Throughout the 1990’s, the youth care model was set to be duplicated in 17 new locations in metropolitan areas across the United States.
Another vision of Father Peter was to bring more balance to the Boys Town population. Although it was understood that girls in the community were facing similar problems as boys, until 1985, only 26 girls resided at Boys Town. This number grew to 210 girls by 1990, which meant remodeling four dormitories and adding ten new Family-Homes to accommodate the growing number. Throughout Peter’s twenty years of service, Boys Town became an award-winning organization that underwent many renovations and new construction.
Out of an abundance of caution amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision has been made that the Monday, July 6th Rosary and the Tuesday, July 7th funeral for Fr. Val will be open only to immediate family, priests, and religious. VISITATION will be open to all friends and family of Fr. Val: Monday, July 6th from 1pm to 5pm at the West Center Chapel, 78th & West Center Rd. To view a live broadcast of the Rosary and Funeral Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “View Live Cast” button on our home page. Interment, St. Mary Magdalene Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Boys Town Dowd Chapel.
