Former Tumwater Mayor Peter Fluetsch dies at 88 

Peter Nicholas Fluetsch, the mayor of Tumwater from 1990 to 1993, died on Aug. 16, 2025. He was 88. 

Fluetsch was born on July 20, 1937, in Olympia, and grew up in Lacey with five siblings, according to an obituary published in dignitymemorial.com. 

He graduated from North Thurston High School in 1957 and went ot college at St. Martin’s University in Lacey. He married Kathryn Haider Fluetsch in the same year, and together they founded Sunset Air in 1976, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning service provider that continues to this day and is now run by his grandson. 

Before he was elected mayor, he served on the Tumwater Planning Commission and Tumwater City Council. The city said in a statement that his death was a loss for the community. 

“We appreciate the love and care people show in this community, and for this community — and want to recognize the loss to our City of Tumwater, surrounding cities, and all of us with the passing of Peter Fluetsch,” said the City of Tumwater in a social media post. 

Fluetch also served on the boards of Heritage Bank and Washington Center for the Performing Arts, and was a founding member of the Thurston County Economic Development Council in 1981. 

“He was integral to crafting the vision to create and support a vibrant, dynamic, and diverse economy for Thurston County and region,” the Economic Development Council said in a statement. 

The Economic Development Council added that in recognition of his work and commitment to the community, he was awarded the JT Quigg Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, one of only five people to be honored. 

Fluetch is survived by his wife, his two children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.