Bernhard Peters

LIFE STORY

Bernhard “Bernie” Peters

Dad was born on January 11, 1938 in Blumengart, Ukraine to Peter & Margarete Peters.  He was the youngest of nine children. Dad had a happy childhood, although there were many difficult times as a result of the Second World War.  When he was five years old, the family escaped from Russia with the retreating German army.  As the war continued, they fled from one German village to another.  When they came to Gronau, the Mennonite Central Committee assisted the refugee families, providing them with a church to attend, with preachers and Sunday School teachers, clothes, food, & other basic needs. Everyone was thankful for the help they received from the MCC. After the war, he enjoyed playing soccer and his favourite subject in school was math.  Throughout his life he seldom used a calculator.  At school, he could often answer the math question in his head before his classmates could do it on paper.

In 1948, Dad’s brothers, John & Hank and one sister, Jutta, immigrated to Canada.  Later another sister, Margaret, and her husband, followed them.  Dad, along with his parents and older sister, Kathea, applied several times to immigrate to Canada.   However, because his father was in poor health, their application was denied.  In 1953, a few weeks before his father became seriously ill and passed away, their church choir often sang the song, "Must I Go And Empty Handed?"  It saddened Dad’s father to think that he would soon meet Jesus, and yet, he could not think of a soul that he had led to the Lord.  When Dad heard that, he decided that he wanted to accept Jesus as his personal Saviour and promised the Lord that he himself would not come to heaven empty-handed.  Later, Dad realized that his father’s prayer had been answered; his testimony had brought Dad to salvation.

Once Dad completed grade 8, he began an apprenticeship making furniture at a local shop.  Approximately seven months after his father’s death, Dad’s mother again applied to come to Canada.  This time their application was granted.  At the age of 15, Dad, his mother, and his sister Kathea came to Winnipeg, where he lived with his brother and sister-in-law, Hank & Lucia.  He went to English school for six months and during that time worked at a bowling alley, setting up pins.

From there, Dad went to Saskatchewan to live with his sister, Jutta, and her family. He worked on their farm for two years and for another local farmer the following year.  After two serious farm accidents that resulted in the loss of his thumb and a broken back, Dad decided to come to Vancouver where his mother and sister Margaret lived.  He found a job in the plywood division of MacMillan Bloedel, where he worked for 28 years.  In 1957, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith, and became a member of the First United Mennonite Church. He enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in youth activities.

Dad was good at managing money and was only 21 years old when he purchased his first house and car.

In 1960, he met mom at a Valentine’s party.  She immediately became very special to him, and they were married a year and a half later, in July of 1961.   The following year, he transferred his church membership to Pacific Grace Mission Chapel where he taught Sunday School for thirteen years.  Here, both Dad and Mom experienced significant spiritual growth.   They formed many life-long friendships.

In 1964, their family grew with the birth of Tammy.  Randy followed in 1966.  In February, 1968, Dad built a house for us and the family moved to Ladner.  In May of 1976, Dad and Mom transferred their membership to the Richmond Bethel Church which was closer to where we lived. Here too, they grew in their Christian walk with God.  Dad was the spiritual leader of our family.  Devotions and prayer were very important. He led Randy to the Lord and was very instrumental in Tammy’s Christian walk as well.  At church, he was privileged to serve on the Board of Worship and was Head Usher for a number of years.

Together, our family enjoyed special times, such as camping around the northwest, traveling to Disneyland and Winnipeg, playing outside, going on mystery tours, attending community events and playing board games.  We enjoyed birthdays, Christmases, and many other family events.  Dad’s passion for sports obvious from his loud, full-bodied cheering while watching what he loved best: soccer, football, and hockey.  Whether on TV or at the many games he took us to, his enthusiasm was clear to all.  Dad really enjoyed his time coaching Randy’s soccer team for three years.

In 1984, MacMillan Bloedel closed the mill. It was a difficult time for Dad as he looked for another job, but eventually he found work as a custodian with the Delta School District. He was employed there for eight years until he experienced a back injury.  This resulted in chronic pain that eventually forced his retirement.

In 1986, the family grew again with Tammy’s marriage to Harry Harms, and in 1991, when Randy married Lois Janzen.

In the following years, Dad and Mom enjoyed looking after their grandchildren.  Dad felt blessed to have the little ones nearby and loved seeing them grow up.  Dad and Mom cared for all seven grandchildren while we worked.  They spent many happy hours together as they played with them, helped them learn their Bible verses and drove them to the various programs they attended. Every summer, all the grandchildren stayed with their Grandpa and Grandma for a week.  They went on daily excursions to local parks, beaches and other attractions.  They made every day special; and that week was the highlight of their summer.

Dad and Mom loved travelling.  Among other trips, they took a number of vacations to Hawaii, the prairies, the Oregon Coast, Arizona and to Germany, where Dad showed Mom where he grew up.

In August 2003, Dad had the joy of leading his brother, John to the Lord in the months before he passed away.  In July 2007, he was also instrumental in leading his brother, Hank to faith in Christ before Hank’s death three days later.

Although Dad sometimes struggled with why the Lord would allow him to have so much pain, he continued to trust God and strived to please Him.  He often wished he could serve Him more.  Dad had a consistent prayer life, and truly loved God. He spent much time studying his Bible and comparing different translations and maps, and reading other Christian books to understand the Bible better.  Despite his continuous suffering, Dad never blamed God, but instead, frequently prayed, “God, may You be glorified through this.”

Almost three years ago, Dad suffered a serious stroke, followed a few hours later by full cardiac arrest, where his heart stopped for 11 minutes.  He was hospitalized for five months and then came home to live for one year.  The results of the stroke were life-changing for both Dad and Mom and presented great challenges, but God gave them strength and grace to carry on.  As his condition deteriorated, it became apparent that Dad needed more specialized assistance.  We are very thankful to all those who lovingly cared for him at Delta View, Northcrest and Mountain View care centers.

We praise God that over the past few months, Dad’s condition improved, and we were able to have many great conversations with him.  What a gift that was!  It was very special to be able to celebrate Dad and Mom’s long-awaited 50th Wedding Anniversary on July 1st of this year with him able to fully enjoy the festivities.

On Monday, July 25th, Dad suffered a second critical stroke.  After breakfast, he went to sleep and awoke on Thursday, July 28th in the arms of Jesus.  We, as a family, are thankful to God that He has relieved Dad of his pain and suffering, and that his body is now whole and perfect.

Dad is predeceased by his parents, Peter and Margarete; his brothers Peter, John and Hank, and his sisters, Jutta, Margaret, Elizabeth and Kathea.  He is mourned by his wife, Sally, his children, Tammy  & (Harry) Harms from Delta, B.C., Randy & (Lois) Peters from Cloverdale, B.C., seven grandchildren, Ashley, Joshua, Nathan and Lukas Harms, and Sydney, Tristan and Olivia Peters; one sister, Maria Fischer, from Germany; and a sister-in-law, Mary Peters, from Winnipeg.

Though Dad is no longer with us, he has a left us a lasting legacy.

We will forever remember the responsibility he took upon himself to model for us how to work hard, study well, value family and to love unconditionally.  And as it says in Romans 5, how to “rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint.”

Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into your rest.

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A celebration of life will be held on Wed., Aug. 3 at 11 AM at the Richmond Bethel Church with Pastor Harry Heidebrecht officiating.

Memorial Gifts in memory of Bernie Peters may be designated for: Mennonite Central Committee.