Peter Dowie Zondag, 29, formerly of Eau Claire, died Thursday, August 17, 2000, in a traumatic explosion at an apartment in Madison, Wisconsin. Peter was born May 1, 1971 in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated from Memorial High School in June of 1989. He recently attended MATC and was employed in Madison. Peter was an Eagle Scout and volunteered with public television in Madison. Peter is survived by his parents, Tuenis and Barbara Zondag; his sisters, Kirstin (Peter) Mehls and Meredith Zondag; his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Tuenis T. Zondag; his maternal grandfather, Elmer P. Rohde; several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Peter lived very intensely and touched the lives of many. Peter was God's gift to us. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angles without knowing it, " Hebrews 13:2. Private memorial services will be held for Peter's family and close friends.

An explosion and fire that destroyed an Allied Drive apartment building and killed a man was an act of suicide, Dane County Deputy Coroner John Stanley said Wednesday. Peter Zondag, 29, 2306 Allied Drive, was burned to death after touching off the inferno, which was fueled by several containers of gasoline in his first-floor apartment. The blaze last Thursday left uninhabitable the eight-unit apartment building, where an estimated 27 people lived.

Zondag's roommate was not home when the fire broke out at 9:05 p.m. No one else in the building was injured.