OBITUARY
H. Peter "Pete" Lieber
November 7, 1944 – November 28, 2021
![Obituary of H. Peter "Pete" Lieber](https://d27790xjhw2fza.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/0/0/8/3/10473800/20211204_132132810_0_orig.jpg/-/h-peter-lieber-indianapolis-in-obituary.jpg?maxheight=650)
IN THE CARE OF
Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery
Herman Peter Lieber
Born November 7, 1944 - Died November 28, 2021
Herman "Pete" Lieber was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 7, 1944 to parents Kurt
Erwin Lieber and Margaret Elizabeth (Taylor) Lieber. In his early childhood he spent time living in
both New York City and Indianapolis. Later, in 1958 he was fortunate to have the opportunity to
sail to Europe on the USS United States with his family including his grandmother, Alma Bachman
Lieber, and his beloved younger sister Marta Ellen Lieber. Together they attended the World's
Fair in Brussels, Belgium which included the particularly memorable Russian Sputnik exhibit, as
well as many other sites throughout Europe.
Pete attended the Park School for Boys in Indianapolis from which he graduated in 1962. At Park,
Pete competed in both wrestling and football, was elected to the student council and later, was
elected class President. Pete was a popular and well-liked friend, forming relationships with
several of his classmates with whom he maintained close ties for the rest of his life. He attended
Brown University but left the school to work at the H. Lieber Company, his family's frame and
photography business in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was here that he first developed his sharp
business and sales skills and what would become a life-long love of photography.
Pete joined the Navy in 1966, serving on the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt during the
Vietnam War with tours throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Onboard his role was an electronics
officer, with roles that included working on the ship's many guns, maintaining and monitoring the
ship's radar equipment and doing complex mathematical calculations to keep the trajectory stable
for firing the guns while the ship rocked. During his military service, he was given the “National
Defense Service Medal.”
After the war, in the early-1970's, Pete worked in advertising and photography in Orlando, Florida.
In the mid-1970's Pete and two partners single handedly created the pet hermit crab fad, founding
the Great American Crab Company in 1977. The company rose to incredible fame in a very short
period, including coverage in Time Magazine and newspapers nationwide. There was even a
photograph that ran in the papers at the time of President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter
stepping off Air Force One carrying one of Pete's hermit crabs in a branded box.
Historians of Indianapolis have long noted the business and commerce contributions of the Lieber
family.
Pete's grandfather and namesake, Herman Peter Lieber, was a businessman and
founding member of the Athenaeum in downtown Indianapolis. Pete followed in those footsteps
and made his own mark on Indiana history when, in the late 1980's, he joined his two close friends
Owen and Janet Neighbours working for the State of Indiana in the economic development
department. With his outgoing personality, intellect, and tireless work ethic, Pete excelled at this
endeavor bringing dozens of businesses both large and small to the State of Indiana. These
experiences also gave Pete rich material for many wacky and wonderful stories, including a story
of escorting Mr. and Mrs. Toyota around central Indiana and showing them several grocery stores
where Mrs. Toyota sought out detailed information about what size bags and types of rice the
stores carried. In recognition of Pete's significant contributions to job creation within the state and
the overall quality of life for Indiana residents, he was presented with the coveted Sagamore of
the Wabash Award in 1988 by Indiana Governor Robert Orr.
Hoosier Energy, the electric cooperative company serving southern Indiana, recognized Pete's
skill and hired him away from the State. Economic development is a joint effort of many
contributors, but Pete was a real spark plug who was integral to this process and continued his
successful streak of attracting significant new commerce to the Hoosier State. The Honda auto
manufacturing plant in Greensburg, Indiana was another large project to Pete's credit before his
retirement in 2007. In recognition of Pete's drive and business acumen during his service to the State, the Indiana Economic Development Association presented him with a coveted "Excellence in Leadership" and "Lifetime Achievement" award.
"That best portion of a good man's life - His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."
Pete will forever be remembered by his many close friends and family as a kind, gentle and caring
soul, a gifted and funny story teller, and a bright, inquisitive and sometimes wacky explorer and
inventor with a childlike enthusiasm for learning and a deep curiosity of the world. He devoted
many hours of his life to various wide-ranging personal endeavors, including drone, arial,
landscape, art and portrait photography, sculpture and painting, numerous mechanical, motorized
and engineered inventions, a deep knowledge of trivia and history (including a trip to NYC to
compete for a spot on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"), and business and stock trading research
which included more than three decades devoted to developing a trading system and detailed
formula for predicting the stock market.
Pete was a devoted and much-loved brother, uncle and friend. He was preceded in death by his
parents, Kurt and Margaret Lieber, his step-mother Barbara Lieber Henderson, and his beloved
sister Marta Lieber Link. He leaves behind two sisters, Jennie Lieber of Ashland, OR and Kate
Lieber of Portland, OR, nephew Larry Link of Brooklyn, NY, niece Katherine Sparks of Carmel,
IN, his best friend and frequent companion, Sharin Martin of Indianapolis, IN, great nephews
Thomas Tragesser of Fort Lee, VA and AJ Matheson-Lieber of Portland, OR, and great nieces
Katie Tragesser of Carmel, IN, Hannah Heskin of Ashland, OR, Maxine Matheson-Lieber of
Portland, OR, and Maya Link of Brooklyn, NY.
Pete's sudden passing leaves a hole in so many lives, and he will be missed tremendously by all
those who had the pleasure to know him.
Rest in peace, dear Pete.
See more
Show your support
DONATIONS
- Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation 3006 Bee Caves Road , Suite D206, Austin, Texas 78746
Past Services
Friday,
December 10, 2021
Visitation
Friday,
December 10, 2021
Thank You
We are reviewing your submission. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website
H. Peter "Pete" Lieber
Taking Care Of Yourself
Helping yourself at your time of loss
Taking care of others
Helping Others Endure Their Loss