Joshua Robert Peters (IABE’04)

July 16, 1981 –February 2, 2014

Joshua R. Peters(IABE ’04) entered the Chapter Eternal on February 2, 2014. He passed away in Bothell, Washington, near Seattle.

Peters was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 16, 1981 to Daniel and Nancy Peters. In his youth, Josh’s father was a military doctor, so the family moved around quite a bit, living in San Antonio, TX, Albuquerque, NM, and Spokane, WA, before settling in West Des Moines, IA where Josh graduated from Valley High School in 1999.

He began his college studies at Iowa State University, where he pledged the Iowa Gamma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was initiated into the fraternity on January 16, 2000 and received badge number 260743. After his freshman year, Peters transferred to the University of Iowa where he pursued degrees in economics and finance. He became very active with the Iowa Beta chapter.

“Josh always tried to live by our creed, The True Gentleman”, said Lee Reighard (IABE ’03) .  “From the moment he set foot in the house, it was clear to everyone that Josh was devoted to the precepts and principles of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.”

Fraternity brothers remember that Josh never missed a Monday chapter meeting or the chapter dinner beforehand. Josh always provided ideas for improvement and he took a special interest in educating new members.

“Josh was always around helping the pledges feel comfortable, making sure they felt like they were valued members of the fraternity”, Reighard said. “There were many nights where he would sit in the chapter room with them for hours, playing guitar and writing music.”  

After graduating with from Iowa in 2004, Peters moved to Seattle where he became a Financial Analyst with Amazon. He moved up the ladder quickly and after four years there accepted a job in Munich, Germany as a lead member of Amazon’s European financial team. He moved back to Seattle in 2012 and started working in a similar role with T-Mobile.  

It was at that time that he met his future wife and life’s partner Angela, and her daughter Sofia. They were married on November 30, 2013.  Shortly thereafter, Peters took ill and subsequently passed away.

“Josh was a great guy with a terrific sense of humor and a love of music. He will be deeply missed,” said Reighard.

Josh Peters is survived by his mother and father, three brothers, his wife and stepdaughter, his fraternity brothers and countless friends.

“May the memory of his good deeds and the example of his noble life ever abide with us as a lasting heritage throughout all succeeding generations.”

-- The Ritual of Sigma AlphaEpsilon