William Peter Ward, Jr.

William E. Ward passed on to his Happy Hunting Grounds to join his good friends and all of his beloved dogs on July 4th . Known by friends and family as "Peter", he was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on November 20th, 1936. He graduated from St. Paul Academy and completed his college studies at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, he captained the lightweight football team during his senior year. In 1959, Peter married Victoria Galloway. This marital union produced three children: William, Andrew and Wendy. He spent many happy times introducing his children to the outdoors and taking them on treks in the Beartooth, Absorkee, and Kit Carson Mountains. Some years later, Peter was divorced from Victoria. After becoming single again, Peter began to travel abroad extensively, as well as in connection with pursuing his outdoor interests here in the United States. Peters many journeys abroad took him to Europe as well as to the Asia Pacific area where he spent time trekking in Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and China. His love of mountain climbing also took him to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Hood and other high places. On many of these trips, he took one or two of his children. As a traveling tourist, Peter enjoyed immersing himself in the native cultures and learning the habits of the people. Always possessing a keen interest in economics and business, he would make a point during his foreign travels to visit and establish acquaintances with as many investment bankers as possible. These visits gave him keen insight into the eventual impact that these countries would play in the twenty-first century economy and fueled the bank of knowledge he employed as a business investor. After graduating from college, Peter began his business career with the 3M Corporation. He would eventually return home to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, and launch a highly successful career as an entrepreneur. He bought, developed, operated and sold several companies as well as investing in commercial real estate. Peter was active both publicly and privately in the civic life of the communities where he resided. Among a few of his community contributions were service upon the boards of Minnesota Outward Bound, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Hodge Nature Center and SPA/Summit Schools. Outside of his chosen vocation in the world of business and his involvement in civic life, at an early age Peter developed a love of the outdoors and nature. His passion for nature began during his youth while participating at the Red Arrow Camp where he discovered the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. As a natural outgrowth of his fondness for the outdoors, Peter developed a keen interest in upland bird hunting and wildlife conservation. Being a native Minnesotan, he became particularly interested in the ecology of the woodcock and ruffed grouse. He was integrally involved in the development and maintenance of habitat to protect and nurture these favorite game birds. As his tenure as an outdoorsman and conservationist lengthened, Peter treasured and nurtured the friendships he made through upland bird hunting. He enjoyed the challenge of wing shooting and loved the working partnership with gun dogs. He enjoyed a number of various breeds of hunting dog, but in the late nineteen nineties he acquired his first Epagneul Breton (French Brittany) known as "Sassy". For the next two decades, Peter played a pivotal role in the work to promote and establish this breed in the United States. As an outgrowth of this particular interest, he traveled and made friends in France and other countries. Peter married his surviving spouse Margaret in 2000. The couple shared a love of the country life and a mutual passion for the outdoors. After marrying, they bought Elkhart Ranch in the Shields Valley near Wilsall, Montana. They moved there to live full time in order to enjoy the Montana ranch, to build a home, and to work to conserve the native wildlife with a focus on upland birds. The couple often hosted neighbors and friends at Elkhart Ranch and enjoyed participating in the life of the local community. Peter and Margaret also shared a mutual enjoyment of fishing. This love of angling led them to travel to many wonderful places in the continental U.S., Alaska, Mexico and Russia. One of Peters other great passions, was traveling his annual circuit for upland bird hunting upon arrival of the fall. The prairies of Saskatchewan, Montana and North Dakota, the coverts of northern and central Minnesota, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, and the pine plantations of the deep south were among his favorite fall and winter destinations. During the past fourteen years Peter spent the most rewarding time of his life on the ranch near Wilsall, Montana with his wife, Margaret, who survives him. He is further survived by sons William (Marie), Andrew (Amy) and Brian, a daughter Wendy , along with grandchildren Kristi, William (Hillary), David, Larkin and Caleb. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Academy Chinese Fund, Dodge Nature Center, and University of Pennsylvania Sprint Football. Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.