WICHITA'S SWEETEST COUPLE

Ask this couple about milestones in their long journey together and it soon becomes clear that their marriage is deeply interwoven with a rich tapestry of family and friends — and even got an assist at times from members of that community nudging them together. Pete and Suzi Meitzner, who celebrated their 41st anniversary last year, were each born and raised in Wichita. Their love story includes a wealth of classic ICT businesses, people and landmarks, all intertwined with a relationship grounded in friendship and humor.

A Special Graduation Gift

Pete and Suzi met in high school at Kapaun Mt. Carmel, where they shared many common friends. “His friends were my friends, and mine were his, and we all just knew each other,” Suzi says.

“Those people are still great, great friends” adds Pete.

The two dated for a while in high school, but then “college happened.” Suzi set off for K-State while Pete attended Wichita State University. They kept in touch through the years, and when Suzi graduated she landed a teaching job at Griffith Elementary, bringing her back to her hometown.

Both Pete and Suzi came from large, active families — Pete is the oldest of seven and Suzi the youngest of five — who loved to spend time at Grand Lake. Water skiing was a major pastime and when Suzi graduated from college her dad, (perhaps with a hidden agenda) called Pete and requested his help with a special

graduation gift for his daughter.

“He wanted to buy all new water-ski equipment for me,” Suzi explains.

Pete continues the story: “My uncle at the time — Dick Curry — was an executive at Coleman, which had acquired O'Brien Watersports. I went to the Coleman Factory Outlet and bought skis, gloves, rope, a new jacket, the whole thing.”

Opening her graduation gift, surrounded by family, Suzi was stunned. “Dad! How did you know what to get?”

“Oh, I called Pete Meitzner,” her dad said.

It wasn’t long before Suzi reconnected with Pete and they were soon “officially dating.” That very Christmas season the couple got engaged, and were married the next summer on June 21, 1980.

Throughout their relationship Grand Lake has continued to play a major role as the setting for long weekends and vacations, a place to unwind with brothers and sisters or friends. Eventually their own children, Erich, now 27, and Natalie, 26, were added to the circle.

Early Careers and Politics

Even though Pete was student body president at Kapaun, foreshadowing later political involvement, his early career went in another direction, something he calls “trying to get into the entrepreneur business.”

The couple partnered with Dan Carney, Pizza Hut founder and local legend. They invested in some Florida franchises, and over the years moved around the country chasing various entrepreneurial pursuits. Along the way Pete gained expertise dealing with local, state and federal governments connected to the telecom business.

Even though they lived around the country in West Palm Beach; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Dallas, Texas, Pete says, “We never lost our roots here in Wichita because our family was still here. I had my Shocker season basketball tickets that whole time and gave them away to my brother.”

When Erich and Natalie were about 6 or 7, the Meitzners sold their business, returned to Wichita, and quickly re-established their lives here, becoming involved with their church, Kapaun and WSU. In 2011 locals started approaching Pete, insisting that the city needed somebody with a business background in government. Pete ran for City Council, served as a Council member for seven years, and later became a Sedgwick County Commissioner where he still holds a seat.

“A lot of politicians are in office because they have a passion about something,” Pete says, “My passion is just to make the community better.”

During those years Suzi continued teaching, then stayed home with Erich and Natalie through elementary school, and finally worked for the Catholic Diocese for 11 years until recently retiring.

Cero’s Chocolates and a Block of Salt

The last two years have provided plenty of opportunities for Pete and Suzi to lean on one another. “Covid has been difficult,” Pete says. “There have been a handful of times where I would be upset and Suzi would really ground me, so I’m able to compartmentalize.”

Suzi says of Pete: “He has a great sense of humor, that’s for sure. I think we both do, and that attracted us to each other. We’re a little bit crazy in a good way.”

One story that’s become part of the family lore goes back to their college days. Unbeknownst to Suzi, Pete was in touch with her family while she was away at K-State. Suzi explains, “One Christmas Mother opened a box; it was a box of Cero’s chocolates and when she passed it around, we’re all like, ‘Who got you Cero’s?’ And she said, ‘Well, Pete Meitzner.’ ”

Suzi’s father quipped, “Oh, he’s saltin’ the cow to get the calf.” When everyone looked puzzled he explained that, on the farm, when farmers want the calves to come in, they set out a block of salt to attract the mother cow and the calf follows her in.

“I just thought it was so funny he was doing that.” Suzi laughs. “One year, after we were married, Pete bought my mom a salt block and wrapped it up in Christmas paper. My whole family already knew about it, so when she opened it we all burst out laughing. He got the cow and the calf.”

“We’re fortunate to have these big families,” says Pete. “You don’t have choices with family so we’re lucky to have very, very great families.”



Suzi finishes the thought: “Family and friends, and our faith.”