Columbus, OH – Peter Edwin Leu, 81, of Springfield, Ill., died of cancer Dec. 26, 2025, at Springfield Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Leu was born on May 30, 1944, the only son of Yvonne and Set Wale Leu.
He owned Leu Stables, retired from CWL,P and served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He attended Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) on a full football scholarship after graduating from Griffin High School, in Springfield. He was an avid sports fan and all-around athlete with his favorite pursuits being fishing and harness racing. In addition to his own small stable, he also worked for both the Ervin Miller and Tom Simmons stables for many years. He enjoyed traveling to many tracks in multiple states but also loved Illinois county fair racing.
Mr. Leu owned many horses through the years but had two favorites: Timely Treat and EZ Pay. He kept Timely Treat until she died at 28 and still had EZ Pay, who won a Indiana Sires Stakes leg at Hoosier Park and became his favorite broodmare.
He is survived by his wife, Heidi; daughter, Jeana; sister, Michelle Cook; several cousins, family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Phillip Cook.
Mr. Leu will be cremated; a celebration of life will be held later in the spring.