Peter Max Wigt December 11, 1957 - June 27, 2026

Peter Max Wigt, 68, left this earthly world on June 27, 2026, surrounded by family who loved him very much. Pete was born and raised in Modesto to Esther (Grubeck) and John William Wigt Jr. He attended Westport Elementary School, Walter White Jr. High, Mae Hensley Jr. High (first graduating class), and graduated from Ceres High School in 1976. He worked on the family dairy from the time he was nine years old, milking cows and whatever else needed to be done. He enjoyed playing football in high school and was the coach for the girls’ Powderpuff team. He was a member of FFA. A few months after graduating, Pete joined the US Army. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Bliss, TX, and Ft. Richardson, Alaska. He served just under a year when his father was killed in the line of duty as a volunteer fireman. At the age of 19, Pete returned home to run the family dairy for his mom.

In the summer of 1980, he met the love of his life, Valli, and a year later they were married. Pete decided to change careers and become a hooftrimmer for dairy cows or a bovine podiatrist as he liked to put it. He was trained by the Duprees and later started his own hooftrimming business which was successful until 2009 when he sold the business. Pete kept hooftrimming for a friend who he helped put into business for a number of years until he retired. Pete then went to work for the Turlock Mosquito Abatement spraying weeds and keeping the mosquito population down. The last few years he worked for Skittone Almond Sheller driving water truck and doing various other duties during almond harvest.

In January 2026, Pete was diagnosed with CLL leukemia. He spent most of the next three months going back and forth to Kaiser for labs and infusions. He finally got better and was back to his old self while still receiving shots to boost platelets. Early in June, he took a turn for the worse. On June 12, Pete and Valli celebrated 45 years together at home since both were not feeling well enough to go anywhere. Three days later, he went to the ER where they diagnosed him with Influenza B. While it was being treated, the leukemia became more aggressive, invading his bone marrow. Pete was never a quitter and he fought hard to rid himself of this cancer.

Pete and Valli raised two sons and put them both through college. He was very proud of his boys. When granddaughter Kylie was born, he was a proud Papa. He was so happy that he lived long enough to see her graduate from high school. Pete loved gardening, fishing, and going to estate sales. He never knew a stranger. He talked to everyone and loved telling jokes. He had a laugh like no other.

Pete is survived by his beloved wife Valli, sons Gabe Lawson and Max Wigt (Jenny Wilson), granddaughter Kylie, and bonus granddaughter Harleigh Wilson. He is also survived by his brothers John W. Wigt III and Joe Wigt. He also leaves behind his aunts and uncle; in-laws, nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.

There will be a viewing at Allen Mortuary, 247 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA, on Friday, July 10, from 4-7 pm. Services will be Saturday, July 11 at 1 pm. A private burial will take place at a later time at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA. May his memory be eternal.

To watch the service online follow this link: https://www.viewlogies.net/allen/lGxa9H0W-?pin=638615