Peter Matti Vinn

Peter Vinn arrived in the United State with his parents, Juri and Els-Maj, from Gothenburg, Sweden, at the age of two. They would eventually settle down in San Pedro, CA in a beautiful home on the side of a hill overlooking the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Pete often reminisced about evenings watching traffic move through the port while eating fruit from the family’s garden. He told tales of desert camping trips, mountain hikes, and family fishing trips upstate. Most often, though, Pete spoke of his love of the ocean.

Pete found himself in Crowley, Louisiana on a journey to meet up with his brother, Thomas, and a broken-down tour van, where a blind date would lead to him meeting the love of his life, Vernida, to whom he has been married for 41 years.

Pete travelled the country for more than a decade working in the oilfield. He loved to share stories about the adventures he and his friends would have, setting off explosives as part of a seismic survey crew in the swamps of Louisiana and Mississippi, and the deep piney woods of East Texas.

In 1984, Pete became a father. The birth of Christopher shifted his priorities, and he and Vernida wed and settled down in Lake Charles. Pete would eventually make a career at Northrup Grumman, where he worked 25 years until his retirement.

Pete loved to share his seemingly endless talents with everyone. He was a Scout Master for Troop 88 in Westlake, LA. He was a youth minister at Gateway Church of God in Moss Bluff, LA. Pete and Vernida loved to volunteer together at local shelters during the holidays.

Pete passed away peacefully in his home with his wife by his side on July 9, 2026, at the age of 74. He was preceded in death by his mother, Els-Maj, and father, Juri, and is survived by his wife, Vernida, brother, Thomas, and son, Christopher.

The family would like to invite you to pay your respects on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 11 a.m – 2 p.m, for visitation at Johnson’s Funeral Home, at 4321 Lake St, Lake Charles, LA 70605. A short service will follow at 2 p.m.