Henry J. Peters

1930 - 2022

Henry passed away peacefully with his daughters, Pat and Kathy, by his side on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Estevan, SK at the age of 92 years.

Born in the Netherlands in 1930, Henry was the first of nine children for Johannes (John) and Everdina Peters. Henry enjoyed learning new things and singing in the church choir. Both became lifelong passions after he started school at age seven and joined choir a year later.

Growing up during World War II had a profound impact on Henry’s life. During the German occupation, he did not have much and learned to ‘make do’, building his own radio and modifying an abandoned army motorcycle.

After graduating from electrical trade school, Henry made his way to Canada in the spring of 1952 and was immediately hired by an Estevan-area farmer. When his employer decided to get the farmhouse wired, the two came into town and Henry first met “Rusty” Duce. He showed Rusty his electrical credentials, was offered a job and the rest is history.  Henry worked for Duce Electric from 1953 until retiring in 1995, including several years as a partner in the company.

Resourceful and self-reliant, he flourished in the electrical trade both personally and professionally. Henry met his future wife Pauline Tarnes while wiring the family’s farm and they married in 1955. They purchased a lot in Estevan, began building their home (now a garage) and welcomed two daughters, Patricia and Kathy. With a growing family in the early 1960’s, he built the house that would be his lifelong home.

By 1972, Henry had played a lead role in developing the phase converter and was heading up the Willett Manufacturing division of A.C. Duce, overseeing the building of control panels and rotadynes which remain integral to the oilfield industry.

Henry loved to travel - mostly by car - and appreciated the many things to experience between destinations, especially nature and birds. He often drove to the west coast to see family, where the climate reminded him of the Netherlands. 

In 1971, Pauline took ill and battled cancer until 1983. Henry married Marianne in 1985, who passed away in 2006.

Henry remained an active member of the church choir until just before COVID. His first trip back to his homeland in 1984 was planned around attending his 50-year choir reunion. Henry was thrilled to return and once again sing with and enjoy the company of his boyhood choir friends.

He liked meeting people and was always fixing something for them or pointing them in the right direction. With projects constantly on the go, he was fondly referred to as the “Flying Dutchman”.

Henry will be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Pat Redekop and Kathy Keating (Glen Kirby) and only granddaughter Nevada Kirby (Brodie Gill); siblings, John, Gerry, Aleida, Mary, Dorothy, and Frank; brothers/sisters-in-law, Margaret Peters, Anna Peters, Mary Morgan, Joe and Jan Tarnes, Richard and Betty-Anne Tarnes, Anne Johner, Dorothy Fornwald, Marjorie Heidinger, Bonna Tarnes, Margaret and Dale Norris and Judy Tarnes; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Henry was predeceased by his parents, Johanne (John) and Everdina Peters; spouses, Pauline (Tarnes) and Marianne (Aubé); siblings, Ted, Tony, and Frank (infant brother); brothers/sisters-in-law, Kay Peters, Frank Johner, John and Bernice Bespflug, Stanley Fornwald, Joe Heidinger, Albert Tarnes and Dennis Tarnes.

Henry’s family wishes to thank the following for their care and support: Unit A of St. Joseph’s Hospital; Lisa Abbott and nursing staff of Sun Country Health; Dr. Chhabra and Staff of Primacy Medical Centre; Pastor Sharon Kane and members of Trinity Lutheran Church; neighbors, friends, and family - especially Kevin and Dale Curtis, René Gervais, Duane Conrad, Susan and Ray Moser, Hank Lievaart and Jo-Anne Gorgerat.

The Celebration of Life for Henry was held on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 738-2nd Street, Estevan, SK with Pastor Sharon Kane officiating. The interment was held immediately following the service at the Souris Valley Memorial Gardens, Estevan. A light lunch was served.

A video recording of the service, as well as a video tribute that the family has prepared, will be available for 90 days, using this link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=49aab1b3-ddd8-45c3-abf0-f4761d135179.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan (designate Allan Blair Cancer Centre), 200 - 4545 Parliament Ave, Regina, SK S4W 0G3 or online at cancerfoundationsask.ca, in memory of Henry.

Hall Funeral Services in Estevan provided care to Henry’s family – Yvonne Clark, Funeral Director.