Peter W. Rygaard, Jr (Pete)
Peter W. Rygaard, Jr (Pete) passed away at the age of 96, on Monday, August 10, 2026 at his home in Texas City, TX, surrounded by the love of his children and his friend & Pastor, David Buco.
Pete was born in Galveston, TX on January 26, 1930, the youngest child of Margaret and Peter W. Rygaard, Sr. He was a 1st Generation American as his parents came to America from Denmark and Germany. Pete attended Ball High School where he was in the Jr. ROTC and attended Alvin Junior College. He went to work for Union Carbide in 1948.
As a young boy in Galveston, he met Mary Louise Blair, who, at 10 years old, told him she was “going to marry him someday”. Fast forward 8 years where they found themselves sitting by each other at a mutual friend’s wedding and struck up a conversation. Pete walked Mary Lou home that night; they began dating, got engaged at Christmas and were married on August 26, 1949.
They were blessed with five children and a long, happy marriage lasting just shy of 75 years, until Mary Lou’s passing in 2024. He was a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather and Great -great grandfather.
The newlyweds settled in Galveston, later moving to Texas City, then to La Marque in 1956, where they raised their 5 children Pete III, Dennis, Terri, Donita and Ricky. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church, where Pete taught Sunday School, ushered, was a scripture reader and Eucharistic Minister. He served on the Church Council as President.
Pete & Mary Lou were devoted to family and service to their community. He enjoyed coaching and umpiring his kids Little League Baseball and Girls Softball and was a Boy Scout Troop Leader for many years. He received one of Boy Scouts highest honors, being inducted into the “Order of the Arrow”. They delighted in attending / cheering on their kids at baseball and softball games, band performances and half-time shows, school plays, parades, graduations, church confirmations and others. They earned many trophies for bowling and loved to dance the night away at organized dances. Many family memories were made while camping at Garner State Park, Lake Tejas, and visiting family in San Antonio or Louisiana.
Pete and Mary Lou enjoyed traveling. On their 38th wedding anniversary, they renewed their vows in Hawaii. They would often be found on a trip with best friends Bev and Joe Rankin either across the state or across the world! They were gifted with a Caribbean cruise by the kids for their 50th anniversary which started their love of cruising. They went on many cruises with friends and family including to Alaska, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico.
Throughout most of his 96 years, Pete’s passion for serving his community continued. Pete served on the La Marque City Council for 14 years, including 4 terms as Mayor.
He received the “Outstanding Community Leader” award from the United States National Association of Towns & Townships in Washington, D.C.
Other service includes President of the Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers Association, Chairman of the Board of the Galveston County Emergency Communications Association (911), President of the Union Carbide Employees Federal Credit Union (20 years), Vice-Chairman of the City of La Marque Economic Development Commission, Board Chairman of the Mainland Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Member of the Board of the La Marque Youth Aid Project, which collected & distributed Christmas gifts to children in need.
He was also a Board Member of M. I. Lewis Social Services Center in Dickinson and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Independence Village, where, in 2015, he received the “Michael R. Johnson Leadership in Excellence” award. He was a member of the Mainland Communities United Way Board of Directors, Vice-President of the La Marque Industrial Development Corporation, Member of the Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce, where he was awarded “Citizen of the Year” in 1994. He also received the Galveston County Boys and Girls Club Appreciation Award in 1997 for his support and contribution to youth.
In 1995 he was honored when College of the Mainland established the “Pete Rygaard Public Service Careers Scholarship” raising $30,000.00 to benefit deserving students. He was also named a “Mainland Hero” by the College.
During his career with Union Carbide, he worked in the field of Industrial Process and Technical Training for over 50 years, training new personnel in unit operations and equipment technology. He taught plant orientation to new hire operators and trained personnel in Puerto Rico for 2 years. He also taught personnel from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. He was selected to run the Safety Compliance Audit Program. He was also Chief Operator and Production Specialist.
In 1973 he began at COM, instructing apprenticeship petrochemical plant operators, and in 1975 began teaching Process Technology. In the 1980’s he and others at COM put together a new training manual for operator instruction. In 1998 Pete became Instructor for COM for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In 2006, he was selected as one of four PT instructors to instruct students from Equatorial Guinea, Africa. He also served as textbook reviewer for the Center for the Advancement of Process Technology.
Pete was an active member of the Carbide Volunteers and CRC (Carbide Retiree Corp.). He received the Texas City Union Carbide Community Service and Chairman’s awards.
Pete loved La Marque Cougars High School football & enjoyed working with CoogsSportsNet to announce / broadcast the games.
With Mary Lou’s support, Pete went back to school to work on his degree, became a member of Phi Delta Kappa & proudly graduated with honors at age 85.
Pete found another of his true passions when he was invited to join the service organization Lions Club in 1982. He had perfect meeting attendance for over 34 years! He could be seen in his Yellow Lions vest at many events selling raffle tickets or collecting eyeglasses to support their causes. He held all offices in his home club and served on the District Governor’s Cabinet. He served as Chairman of Leadership Development, Zone Chairman, Eye Bank Advisory Board, and the USA-Canada Forum. He was elected Lt. Governor in 1987, District Governor in 1988, and chaired as Texas State Governors Council. He was presented with the Lion of the Year award in 1989. He received two International President’s Appreciation Awards and two District Governor’s “Medals of Achievement”. Pete was a Life Member of Texas Lions Camp and Texas Lions Eye Bank.
Pete & Mary Lou moved to Dickinson in 2007 and became active members of Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council as Vice President, then President. They moved to Santa Fe in 2019 on their 70th Anniversary, where they enjoyed hosting holidays, and sitting on their patio playing tri-ominoes, watching the birds and squirrels or tending to their plants, with their dog Taffy.
After Mary Lou’s passing, Pete moved to Sodalis Senior Living in Texas City, where he was embraced by residents and staff. He quickly became known as “Pistol Pete” and made many new friends and became the Bingo King!
If you didn’t know Pete, you would become his friend as soon as he met you, when he greeted you with his warm handshake and welcoming smile. And, in just minutes, you would hear a “dad joke” from him while he chuckled at the punch line. His grandkids really got a kick out of his antics, and he was always ready to challenge them to games and riddles. And of course, he loved it when they challenged him right back! He loved card games, dominoes, Dallas Cowboys, his books and movies.
Pete will be remembered for his deep love of family, his dedication of service to others, his integrity, his loyalty and his kindness.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou, his parents, brothers Martin and Kincy, sisters Eda and Katherine.
He is survived by his five children: Pete Rygaard III (Denise), Dennis Rygaard (Babs), Terri Foreman (Jack), Donita Brannon (Barry), Ricky Rygaard (Lanie); 13 grandchildren: Richard Rygaard (Becky), Amey Eaton (Newell), Heather McCallay (Jason), Melinda McNatt (Michael), Niki Landry, (Craig), Tyson Frost, Jeremy Frost (Niki), Dustin Frost, Abby Calhoun, Jason Lehrman (Kimberly) Nicholas Ward (Lindsey), Cody Rygaard (LeeAnna)and Brandi Gaspard (Ryan), 23 Great-Grandchildren: Victoria, Kyle, Lacey (Andrew), Bella, Kenzy, Lani, Brittany (Nathan), Taylor (Dylan), Justin (Becca), Kailee, Kya, Ryder, JJ, Hannah (Mikey), Breanne, Jacob, Rylee, Trentin, Jayce, Paiton, Emilee, Kastan, Emily and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren: Dallas, Maisie, Westin, Landry, Everett.
The family would like to thank the staff of Sodalis Senior Living for loving our Dad like family and providing professional, dedicated, attentive, and heartfelt care. You certainly made his move to senior living enjoyable for him and comfortable for us. We will be forever grateful.
We would also like to thank Three Oaks Hospice for providing the gentle and compassionate care he received in the last few weeks.
Funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation 5pm-7pm Friday, August 21, 2026, at Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque. Funeral services will be 10am on Saturday, August 22, 2026, also at Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque, with Pastor David Buco officiating. A Graveside service will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Cemetery in Hitchcock.
Pallbearers are his sons Pete Rygaard III, Dennis Rygaard, Ricky Rygaard and his grandsons Richard Rygaard, Cody Rygaard, Tyson Frost, Jeremy Frost, Dustin Frost, and Nicholas Ward.
Honorary Pallbearers and longtime friends are son-in-law Jack Foreman, Jose Boix, Paul Hopkins, Jr., Bruce Terry, Charles W. Blair, III, Scott Rankin, Gary Meyer, Austin Rygaard, and Charlie Phinney.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Santa Fe Lions Club, P. O. Box 76, Santa Fe, TX 77510 or Texas Lions Camp, 400 Highway 27, Kerrville, TX 78028-7091 or Faith Lutheran Church, 801 FM 517 Rd E., Dickinson, TX 77539 or the charity of your choice.
I enjoyed caring for Pete . He was so polite and fun I loved him as my own grandfather i always called him adopted grandpa. My prayers go to the family . It will be hard to not seeing Pete everyday .
To my great friend and second dad no better man
Pete was always encouraging us. God’s blessings on his family.
Pete Rygaard was a mentor, father figure and friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him; an exceptional human being and true gentleman. Thank you Pete for always listening and validating all of us. Godspeed my friend. Love to you and your grieving family.
Wow what a great obituary for a great man.
He and MaryLou were always so kind and sweet to me
I am so sorry for the family’s loss but so happy for the
reunion of him and MaryLou, now they can both rest in
each other’s arm’s with Jesus forever.
Pete has been a part of my life since he married my Cousin, Mary Lou, who is my Namesake. I will miss him so much. My condolences to his Children, my Cousins.
Mary Lou Kunkler
What an honor it was to be able to not only to help care for Mr Pete but to be able to call him my friend. He will surely be missed!!
I got to know Pete during what I think was the happiest time in my adult life, when we lived in La Marque in the early ’90s. I was honored to serve with Pete on the city council, but more honored just to call him a friend. He was one of the kindest, warmest people I ever met. Although I haven’t seen him for at least 20 years, my heart aches a bit. He lived such a generous and tremendous life, there’s really no reason to be sad except for not seeing him for too many years. But he was one of the best guys I’ve ever known. Rest well, Pete.
I worked with Babs at Mainland hospital. Condolences to your whole family
I greatly respected Mr. Pete Rygaard. He was a fine man, very kind, personable, and unpretentious even though I considered him an important citizen of LaMarque. I met him when I was employed by First Bank of LaMarque, and my young family lived in the community of LaMarque. I left the bank and went to work for Galveston County Federal Credit Union (fka Carbide Employees Federal Credit Union) and there he was again. It was good to have a familiar friend. He gave so much of himself to the community and beyond in every aspect of his life. Mr Rygaard will be missed, but he ran his race well with the Lord, and I rejoice that he is now with Jesus and his beloved Mary Lou. I send my sincerest condolences to all his family. You were blessed to have such a great patriarch and example of a God fearing man.
It is with deep sadness I send my heartfelt condolences to all in the loss of my great uncle. I am the son of his nephew Kincy. (son of his brother Quintius) Even though I’ve been living on the other side of the nation for nearly 40 years it still leaves a deep loss from such a well loved and respected man. One of a kind and sadly missed!
Richard D Rygaard
I remember Mr. Pete Rygaard from when I worked at Union Carbide in Texas City during the 1970s – 1990s. News of his passing saddened me. He was very well known, liked, and respected by everyone.
What a loss for all of us! I’ve known Pete and MaryLou since
my days at Carbide during the 60’s. I give him credit for lots of the things I’ve accomplished since then. Pete was instrumental in the creation of the PTEC degree serving on the PTAC ( PTEC Advisory Committee ) that was expanded to over 50 colleges that has improved the lives of thousands of students across the U.S.
He was a great friend and mentor. Plus he allowed me to dance with MaryLou at the Carbide Christmas celebrations!!