Kiepersol Estates Founder Pierre de Wet Dead at 61

TYLER — Pierre de Wet, 61, the founder of the Kiepersol family of farming, winemaking and hospitality enterprises, died Tuesday morning at his home of cardiac arrest.

De Wet came to East Texas in 1984 with his daughters Marnelle and Velmay after having lost his wife to cancer at their native home in South Africa. He began farming land on behalf of other land owners, an endeavor that would lead to his creation of a multi-state farming operation that was run by Agtoprof, Inc., a company that de Wet founded. At its peak, Agtoprof employed over 2,500 in the management and operation of tree-fruit farms in California, Florida, Arizona and Washington, as well as his own farm in East Texas.

In 1999, having assembled acreage in southern Smith County between Tyler and Bullard, de Wet established Kiepersol Estates as a residential real estate development. At about that time, he opened the Kiepersol Estates Restaurant and B&B, a five-star dining venue with an attached bed and breakfast.

In 2000, Kiepersol released the first wines vinted from grapes that had been planted in 1997 on a portion of the Kiepersol Estates acreage.

Today, Kiepersol Estates produces approximately 15,000 cases of wine annually from vines grown on 67 acres of estate property. Kiepersol wines have been recognized and have received awards in multiple international wine competitions. Kiepersol wines are sold at the Kiepersol Winery and through retailers throughout Texas. Recently, Kiepersol began making distilled spirits including Texas bourbon, Texas vodka and Texas rum.

Pierre de Wet adopted Texas and the USA as his home and became an American citizen in 1994. Said longtime friend and spokesman Paul Gleiser, “Pierre once told me that he would write a check for $100,000 if it would buy him a Texas accent. He is a true American success story. He arrived in America expecting only its promise of opportunity and brought life from the Earth while creating a successful, family-oriented and proudly Texan business.”

Some time ago, de Wet created a detailed plan of succession. All of the Kiepersol Enterprises operations will continue without interruption under family management.

Pierre de Wet is survived by his love Kelly Doherty, sisters Suzanne and Wilna, daughters Marnelle de Wet Durrett and her husband Jim, Velmay de Wet Power and her husband Chris, grandchildren Harris, Saundi, Lloyd Pierre and Sendra and a Kiepersol staff of 75.

A public celebration of Pierre de Wet’s life will be held Wednesday, February 3 at 3:00 p.m. at the KE Bushman’s Event & Celebration Center, U.S. Highway 69 at FM 2493.

Memorials in honor of Pierre de Wet may be made to the Mane Mission Foundatin at any East Texas Southside Bank location.