Peter Mittertreiner
August 21st, 2022
Petrus (Peter) Mittertreiner
March 10, 1931 - August 21, 2022
Petrus (Peter) Mittertreiner died quietly early Sunday morning on August 21, 2022, in St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia.
A dedicated son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, Peter will be remembered for his easy charm and affable nature, his ability to repair anything from cars to industrial dishwashers, his grace on the dance floor, and his joy in helping people.
Peter was born in The Hague in the Netherlands, one of eight children, to Paulina (Devilee) and Antonius Mittertreiner. Peter was predeceased by his wife Cisca (Janssen), daughter Pauline, brothers Johan, Frans and Antonius, and sisters Engeline and Jose. He is survived by his daughter Bernice Mittertreiner Neal (Steve), sons Tony Mittertreiner (Janice Eng) and Pierre Mittertreiner, brothers Paul and Fons, devoted sisters-in-law Doris, Truus, Riet, and Mies, Riet, Adri, beloved grandchildren Em, Kevin, Gwen, Rachael, Hilary, and beloved companion Elenor.
Peter emigrated to Canada in 1953 and began his career in the parts department with Massey-Ferguson in Calgary, spending a stint on the Hansma farm in Granum in order to understand how farm machinery worked by working with it. Married in 1959 to Cisca, Peter enjoyed greatly his job as paymaster and office manager for a pipeline company, working for almost a decade in the oilfields from the Drayton Valley to Cochrane in an office trailer with his trusty boxer, Bella, at his side. When the family moved to Calgary, Peter began work at the Mannix Company as a computer systems manager, setting up a small workshop in the basement of our house to tinker in, and building an awesome playground in the backyard for the kids that included a garden, swing-set, high bar, and, most wonderfully, a teeter-totter whose pivot was a fat iron spring. In the fall of 1978, the family moved to Vancouver Island, BC, where Peter developed a business selling supplies to restaurants from Ladysmith to Ucluelet, gaining the respect and affection of owners and staff up and down the Island by going the extra mile to fix equipment in their kitchens. After Peter and Cisca separated, Peter continued to make his home on Vancouver Island, contributing to the maintenance of two ocean-side public parks in Yellow Point and forging a robust gang of friends in Nanaimo, who loved to dance as much as he.
Peter always kept Cisca in his heart and mind, remaining devoted to her until she died. He was a happy and loving dad. He especially cared for, protected, and loved his most vulnerable child, Pierre, and devoted decades of his life to supporting Down syndrome Societies in BC and Alberta. In later years, he moved to Vancouver and joined the Home Depot as a sales associate, delighting customers by helping them solve all kinds of problems. His membership in the Knights of Columbus and work with the Guardian Angels Parish gave meaning to his life and spiritual sustenance, and he is remembered by his fellow knights as ever being a true friend, a model Catholic, and an outstanding member of the Order. Peter was a fit and vigorous man, who loved being outside, especially in the forest or by the sea. He walked the Stanley Park seawall daily up to his 88th year. Upon a visit from a best Island-friend, he would dance the night away in all the hip spots on Robson Street (they were always let in upon arrival, no matter what the lineup).
Peter spent his final years at Haro Park Centre, in the heart of the West end neighbourhood of Vancouver he loved so much. We are forever grateful to the kind and gentle people there--so many who looked after him body and spirit, who danced and sang with him, and who were always delighted to let Peter charm them.
We love you, Peter. Rest in peace.
A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m., November 12 in Vancouver at Guardian Angel Parish, 1161 Broughton Street North, Vancouver, BC. The service will be streamed on-line for those unable to attend. Those who wish to donate in Peter's memory are kindly directed to the John Howard Society of Canada: http://johnhoward.ca/about-us/organization/funding-sources/
