He was born on 5 October 1943 at 9.10 P.M. at Ashland General Hospital, Ashland, Wisconsin; delivered by C. J. Smiles, M.D. He grew up at the Doctor’s residence at Pureair Sanatorium, Bayfield, Wisconsin with his parents and three brothers. He graduated from Lincoln High School, Bayfield, Wisconsin on 25 May 1961. He then attended the Minneapolis School of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Peter then worked for about six months for Midwest Airlines at O’Hare Field in Chicago. He then moved to Sheboygan, Wisconsin in about 1965 and lived across the street from his brother Michael who was teaching at Urban Junior High School. Michael was acting with the Sheboygan Community Players, and introduced Peter to the theater. Peter was an actor, stagehand and board member of the Sheboygan Community Players for the following 43 years. In March 1989, he and another actor won the Wisconsin two actor play contest with "The Sea Horse” and represented Wisconsin in the regional competition at Muncie, Indiana. He lived at 1320 North 4th Street, Sheboygan at the time of his marriage to Patricia Modiz. After their marriage they lived at 615A Zimbal Avenue, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Peter was employed as a receiving clerk at Hydraulic Tools Corporation. After his divorce from Patricia, while working at Hydraulic Tools he met Betty Ihlow and they were married on 30 June 1979. Peter and Betty lived at 1706 South 14th Street, Sheyboygan, Wisconsin 53081 in the upstairs duplex of her mother’s home, until she died in 1988 and they inherited the house. Peter was later employed by the K.W. Muth Company which at the time of his retirement was International Automotive Components. He was diagnosed with lymphoma in September 2007 and because of chemotherapy he never returned to work. Peter died at home with hospice care on Friday morning 5 September 2008 with Betty at his bed side. Peter had planned his funeral which was held at 7 PM on 10 September at the First Presbyterian Church of Sheboygan. The large attendance of many friends gave testament to the full life he lead. His first wife, Patricia, her son Mark and Pat’s mother Donna were of great comfort to Betty. Many friends of the Sheboygan Theater Company attended with Ralph Maffongelli giving the eulogy. Sandy Kasten sang “The Lord’s Prayer” and Samantha Pool sang “We Are Not Alone”. Peter was buried under a gray sky by Rev. Richard Manny at 9 AM on 11 September 2008 in Section 18 of Wildwood Cemetery attended by members of his family and his pallbearers.

July 23, 2008
Actor's battle with cancer leaves stage emptier Man involved in local theater for the last 40 years
By Doug Carroll Sheboygan Press staff
If Peter Moody hadn't cut across an O'Hare International Airport runway — and been fired from his job for doing so — he might never have crossed a Sheboygan stage. The Sheboygan Theatre Company surely would have survived without him, although director Ralph Maffongelli isn't sure how.
"I can't think of the theater without thinking of Peter Moody," Maffongelli said. "He played the lead in the first show I directed 27 years ago. "He's the epitome of great community theater. To him, the show is more important than any person in it."
Moody, 64, estimates that he has been part of 150 productions in about 40 years with the local troupe. His lead roles included the King of Siam in "The King and I," Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" and Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." But he also consistently shined in smaller parts and in behind-the-scenes work on props and lighting. He is one of eight life members of the company.
No job was beneath Moody, a leading man who unfailingly checked his ego at the stage door, and his battle with cancer has left a void in the company, which will kick off its 75th anniversary season in the fall. "Peter has done it all," Maffongelli said. "The theater means everything to him."
The love affair had a rocky start. Moody grew up in tiny Bayfield, on Lake Superior, graduating from high
school in a class of 19. He remembers an English teacher who made the students perform a play every year. "I hated it," he said.
But an older brother, Mike, who lived in Sheboygan and became involved in productions with the Sheboygan Community Players, STC's forerunner, encouraged him to visit after he had been fired at the Chicago airport. Peter found that he enjoyed hanging out with the thespian crowd, and he also found a manufacturing job. Before long, he had taken a walk-on part in a play. And he was hooked.
"I started to enjoy being out there (onstage)," he said. "The hot lights, the scratchy costumes, the makeup. I sucked it up. I thought it was great. "Theater will never die. The fresh experience of seeing someone onstage is one of the best in the world."
Moody took his roles seriously, listening to his lines on cassette tape as he drove to and from work. Once, while intensely reviewing a script upstairs at his South 14th Street home with his wife, Betty, a visiting carpenter wasn't sure what was going on. "He thought we were fighting," Betty said with a laugh.
She had long since accepted that her husband had a "mistress." "He was so dedicated," she said. "When we started dating, it was like the theater was the other woman. But I began to appreciate the work he was doing. Here's a guy who was doing something good for the community."
Bernie Markevitch, of Sheboygan, who has known Moody since the latter's arrival in town, saw the same
thing as they worked together on various productions. "He has an excellent work ethic, and it shows in the quality of his work," said Markevitch, 64. "He approaches every project with a new vigor. His dedication becomes infectious. He has been a joy."
Living with cancer, Moody acknowledged, has been his most difficult role yet. He was diagnosed last
September with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and he recently resumed chemotherapy after a four-month
remission. "There have been moments when I didn't know if I wanted to live anymore," he said. "Then you say, 'This is stupid. I'm gonna die someday anyway.' "The most important thing is the attitude. You've got to smile and joke and have fun and not think about the blackness of it."
Markevitch said he has learned never to underestimate his friend, who is capable of making the best of
anything, on or off the stage. To the end, Moody will be the consummate performer.
"The cancer is a setback, but he'll give it 100 percent," Markevitch said. "The show must go on, and that's the way he has dealt with his life."
(Peter had been working for about six months for Midwest Airlines at O’Hare Field in Chicago. He worked the 11- 7 shift and was driving one of those tugs that they used to move baggage. It was a cold night and he wanted to get back into shelter so he took a shortcut and suddenly, there were two huge headlights looking at him from a plane taxiing out of the gate preparatory to taking off. No imminent collision or anything but they had pretty strict rules about that sort of thing so Peter was fired.)

September 7, 2008
Local actor Moody remembered at benefit
By Josh Lintereur Sheboygan Press staff
Community members gathered Saturday at the What's Up Bar and Grill in Sheboygan to honor local theater legend Peter Moody, who died of cancer at his home Friday at the age of 64. Moody was remembered as a beloved friend, kind co-worker and passionate member of the Sheboygan Theatre Company, where he'd been part of 150 productions during the past four decades.
"He will be missed, and he will not be forgotten," said Dick Pool, 63, a longtime friend and colleague of Moody's at the theatre. Saturday's gathering was planned as a fundraiser for Moody and his family to help offset Moody's medical bills. Moody, who was diagnosed last September with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, had planned to attend. "He wanted to be here," said Tim Piel, 42, a co-worker of Moody's at International Automotive Components in Sheboygan. "He was really looking forward to this."
During his lifetime, Moody became a local icon for his 40-year involvement in community theatre. Pool described Moody's excitement for the craft as contagious, and he credits Moody for recruiting hundreds of people into the company. Moody was one of eight life members with the local theatre troupe. His lead roles included the King of Siam in "The King and I," Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" and Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." His wife, Betty, said that her husband did not believe he was above any task for the theatre, whether he was playing lead or working on props. "He was the most unselfish person," she said. "Nothing was too small, and he was never to proud to do whatever work needed to be done." Moody's first brush with live theatre was anything but love at first sight. While growing up in Bayfield, his English teacher made him and his classmates perform a play every year. Moody loathed it. Year later, his older brother, Mike, encouraged him to get involved in a local theatre group. Moody eventually fell in love with being on stage, and he never looked back. He took his roles very seriously, often listening to his lines on cassette tapes as he drove to and from work. Pool remembers how Moody once prepared for his part as Franklin D. Roosevelt in "Annie," by watching film and reading history books. "He nailed it," Pool remembers. Moody's co-workers at International Automotive Components, who helped organize the fundraiser, said Moody would often recite lines and sing songs from whatever show he was rehearsing while at work. "He would sing, and you'd be like, 'What's going on?'" said Mary Eirich, 48. "We really enjoyed him, and we'll miss him."

The Sheboygan Press
September 7, 2008
Peter J. Moody
Peter J. Moody, a man well known for his many acting roles with the Sheboygan Theater Company, and residing at 1706 S. 14th St. passed away at the age of 64 on Friday, September 5, 2008 at his home with his family beside him.
Peter was born on October 5, 1943 in Ashland, WI a son of the late Dr. Leonard and Ann (Matkovich) Moody. Growing up in Bayfield he attended schools there and graduated from high school.
In 1969 he was united in marriage to Patricia Modiz and together they had two sons. While working at Hydraulic Tools he met Betty Ihlow and they were married on June 30, 1979. Peter was later employed by the K.W. Muth Company which at the time of his retirement was IAAC. Peter enjoyed artwork and sketching but his real passion was with the Sheboygan Theater Company. He enjoyed a 40 year relationship with the theater company. An article written in The Sheboygan Press on July 23, 2008 said this about Peter, "Moody, 64, estimates that he has been part of 150 productions in about 40 years with the local troupe. His lead roles included the King of Siam in "The King and I," Daddy Warbucks in "Annie," and Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol." But he also consistently shined in smaller parts and in behind-the-scenes work on props and lighting. He is one of eight life members of the company." A partial list of the productions he appeared in besides the ones mentioned already is "Jack and the Beanstalk," "Guys and Dolls," "Applause," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Sound of Music," "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "South Pacific," "Brigadoon," "Hello Dolly!," "The Man Who Came to Dinner," "Man of LaMancha," "Peter Pan," "Camelot," "H.M.S. Pinafore," "Babes in Toyland," "Gypsy," "The Wizard of Oz," and "Romeo and Juliet."
Peter was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Peter is survived by his wife, Betty Moody; two sons and grandsons, Peter (Rebecca) Moody of Milwaukee and their sons, Logan and Evan, and Eric Moody of Oshkosh; three brothers, Dr. David (Yvonne) Moody of Bayfield, Tom Moody of Redlands, CA, and Mike Moody of St. Paul, MN. He is further survived by his sons mother and half brother Patricia Rowe and Mark Rowe of Sheboygan, other family and many friends.
A funeral service for Peter will be held 7 pm, Wednesday, September 10 at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Richard Manny, pastor, as officiant. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church, N. 5th and Superior Ave. on Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. until the time of service at 7 pm.
Peter's family would like to extend their appreciation and thanks to Dr. Matthews and his staff along with the staffs of St. Nicholas Home Health and Hospice and St. Nicholas Hospital. Their care and compassion will be remembered.