Peter "Pete" Joseph Corpstein, 87, died on November 28, 2017. Pete's grandfather Peter founded Valley Lumber in 1898, and later became Mayor of Phoenix. Pete's other grandfather, John Norton, settled in the Valley in 1881 and oversaw the design and construction of much of the Arizona Canal system and served as a Maricopa County Supervisor. Pete attended the University of Arizona. After university, he entered the U.S. Army where he attained the rank of First Lieutenant and served in Germany and various posts in the U.S. until he was honorably discharged in1957. He returned home to work in the family business - Valley Lumber, Feed & Seed Company. Pete ran the lumber company division and his brother Bill ran the feed and seed divisions. In the late 1960’s Pete and Bill sold Valley Lumber Company to O'Malley's Lumber. With time on his hands, Pete engaged in charitable work and political fundraising. Republican Party officials asked him to run for the Arizona House of Representatives for the old legislative district 24. He was elected in 1973. He served as Representative in the House for 10 years and then served in the Arizona Senate for another 8 years. He received the Air Conservationist of the Year award from the Wildlife Federation in 1987 for passing comprehensive legislation to improve the Valley's air quality. Subsequent to the legislature, Pete served four years as Maricopa County Assessor. In 1989 he was elected Vice Chairman of the Western Legislative Conference, consisting of all 13 western states and three U.S. Territories. He also was elected Chairman of the National Transportation Task Force on Urban Mobility Transportation and the Board of Directors of the Arizona Highway Users Federation. Pete was a member of the St. Luke's Medical Center "Luke's Men" (Founding President), Young Presidents Organization, ASU Sun Angel Foundation (Honorary Lifetime Director), Trunk 'N Tusk Committee, Early Birds, Valley Field and Riding Club and Phoenix Country Club. Pete is survived by wife, Alice Daly Corpstein, a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, many nephews, nieces and his extended family. He is preceded in death by a brother. A visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5, 2017 from 5 to 7:30pm at Messinger Indian School Mortuary. The funeral is scheduled for 12:30pm, Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at St. Patrick Catholic Community, 10815 N. 84th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Reception to follow at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley. Pete will be interred at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ. Donations honoring Pete can be made to Neighborhood Ministries, 1918 W. Van Buren, Phoenix, AZ 85009. (Source: Arizona Republic)