Peter Strickholm passed away on Tuesday, January 28^th ,2025. Dearly loved by his family and many friends, Peter was an outdoor wilderness expert, jazz pianist, and composer. With an amazing, kind heart, if in trouble or just in need of a hand, he was there.

Born on January 3^rd, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Leila and Alfred Strickholm, Peter watched his older brother Steve take piano lessons. At 5, he began taking lessons, leading to his life-long musical journey ending as a gift to the world.  After graduating from Bloomington High School North, he went to Colorado College, where he pursued his three passions:  Music, Math, and Mountains.  While there, he completed the NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) Programs in both Summer Backpacking and Winter Wilderness Survival.

After graduating and living in Bloomington, Peter joined the local spelunker group, leading local caving trips.  Several years later, he returned to the Rockies and the University of Colorado at Boulder to obtain his M.A. in Music Composition.  Back in Bloomington again, he studied and received the M.A. from I.U. in Biology, applying his math skills to forecasting wildlife populations. 

Peter made Bloomington his “base camp” during his life, leaving for annual summer backpacking trips with his father and brother into the Sierras and the Southwest.  The photo is from his favorite spot in Chaco Canyon, where he felt especially connected to nature.

Peter suffered a cardiac arrest 9 years ago from a bad reaction to high blood pressure medications, which damaged the Basal Ganglia area of his brain (from oxygen deprivation) and left him completely immobile and paralyzed, requiring 24/7 care.  Unable to communicate, he was lovingly cared for in a medical room in his parents’ home, surrounded by a cadre of committed nurses and friends, for whom his family is forever grateful.  Peter was preceded in death by his father, Alfred, requiring the family to relocate Peter to Providence Care Medical Facility, part of Saint Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute.  He received their expert and loving care for the past three years and was in Hospice when he passed away.

 He is survived by his mother, Leila, brother, Steve, and Sister, Julie, who are looking forward to sharing his life-long passion for music and his original compositions on this website.