Peter Mellen Cate

Obituary

Peter Mellen Cate, 81, of Vienna, Austria, formerly of Dubuque, died Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in Tulln, Austria.

Services were held in Austria.

He was born on March 12, 1927, in Dubuque, son of Paul Lewis and Grace Almina (Norton) Cate. He married Elfriede "Elfi" Hoefler on July 23, 1947, in Vienna; she preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 1990. He married Doris Hinn on Jan. 3, 1992.

Peter joined the Army upon graduation from Dubuque High School in 1946, and served in the Allied occupation of Austria, where he met and married his first wife, Elfi. After active combat in the Korean War he served in the United States and Germany. Due to his commitment to continuing education, he became an expert in cryptography while rising through the ranks to chief warrant officer, teaching at the Signal School in Germany.

Upon retirement from military service in 1966, he joined the staff of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. He became the head of the contract division, responsible for funding of projects for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He was involved in the implementation of the tsetse fly eradication program, which saved thousand of lives in Africa. As a former staff member, he shared in the IAEA's 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

After retiring, Peter traveled extensively and enjoyed visiting a wide variety of countries.

Surviving are his wife, Doris, of Tulln, Austria; his sister, Grace Schnorenberg, of Dubuque; two sons and their wives, Peter Carl (Sylvia) Cate and Frederick Michael (Elizabeth "Sissy") Cate, all of Vienna; grandchildren, Elizabeth Theresia, Marie-Sophie, Thomas and Sabine; and a great-granddaughter, Luisa.

He also was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy; four brothers, Lawrence, Mason, Robert and Edward; and a son, Robert Norton.

Telegraph Herald - (May/2/2008)

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

about Peter M Cate

Name: Peter M Cate

Birth Year: 1927

Race: White, citizen (White)

Nativity State or Country: Iowa

State: Iowa

County or City: Dubuque

Enlistment Date: 15 Dec 1945

Enlistment State: Virginia

Enlistment City: Camp Pickett Blackstone

Branch: No branch assignment

Branch Code: No branch assignment

Grade: Private First Class

Grade Code: Private First Class

Term of Enlistment: One year enlistment

Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)

Source: Enlisted Man, Philippine Scout or recall to AD of an enlisted man who had been transferred to the ERC

Education: 4 years of high school

Civil Occupation: Student, High School, Academic or Copper Or Tinsmith* (Coppersmith. ) or Sheet Metal Worker* An asterisk (*) appearing after a job title indicates that a trade test for the particular occupation will be found in the United States Employment Service Manual

Marital Status: Single, without dependents