Dr. Peter Christopher Weber, 78, of Olney, Illinois, passed away on Friday, October 27, 2023 at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney.

He was an orthopedic surgeon for over forty years and the third generation of Weber physicians to serve Olney, Illinois, a line that spanned more than a century. Dr. Pete was born on May 15, 1945 to Dr. Frank J. and Mary McDermott Weber of Olney, IL, the fourth of their five children.

He attended St. Joseph School and East Richland High School, graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from an accelerated undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University, and earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School. While studying in Baltimore, he sang in the Goucher College Chapel Choir, where he met Ellen Welden Evans of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Following a surgical internship at University of Kentucky, Pete was drafted into the Army and stationed at Da Nang, Vietnam and Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

Pete and Ellen were married in 1972 in Columbus, Ohio by the bride’s father. After Pete concluded his military service, he completed his orthopedics residency at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis in 1976 and moved to Olney, where he began his practice.

Pete and Ellen raised their family of three children in a log cabin that Pete co-designed and built across the woods from his parent’s home. A lifelong musician, Pete played trumpet in the Cummins Municipal Band, in chamber ensembles, and in the pit for musicals at Olney Central College. He also played banjo and recorder, and performed in madrigal dinners at OCC. He sang tenor in family sing-alongs and often led the singing of Tallis’ canon as grace at family gatherings.

Pete was an avid birder and active member of the Ridgway Chapter of the Audubon Society. An amateur naturalist and nature photographer, Pete confirmed the presence of ferns and birds previously unknown to exist in Richland County. He also participated in annual bald eagle surveys, assisted with tracking the migration and breeding of endangered whooping cranes.

He retired from medicine in 2012 in order to do more of what he loved: spending time with his family, participating in Eastern Illinois University Phi Beta Kappa Association and JHU Alumni medical school events, enjoying nature, birding, attending performances, and making music. He was honored by the Tiger Alumni Center with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Dr. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Frank J. and Mary Weber, and his sister, Gretchen Whittaker (Lee Whittaker), and is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ellen; his children, Peter Weber (Kira Irons) of Evansville, IN, Elizabeth Weber (Jeffrey Smith) of San Diego, CA, and Anne Weber (Matthew Bollinger) of Ithaca, NY; his granddaughters Agnes Bollinger and Cora Weber; his siblings Regina Reed (Wally Reed), Frank Weber, and Tom Weber (Jean Weber); and beloved nieces, nephews, generations of cousins, and friends.

His visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Olney on November 3, 2023 from 10 AM- 11 AM, to be followed by a funeral service at the church at 11:00 AM. Full Military Honors will be performed at the church following the funeral service.

Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home, Olney, IL