May 21, 1934 – February 25, 2024
Surrounded by love, Art passed away peacefully at age 89 on Sunday morning at Health Sciences Centre.
He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Leonore, daughter Corinna (Jerry), son Derek (Angie), and 3 grandsons Ryan, Matthew and Jack, as well as siblings Elsie, Hilda, Melita, Linda and brother-in-law Jake and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is predeceased by his sister Wanda, brother Alvin, sisters-in-law Herta and Anne, and brothers-in-law Henry, Peter, Hassan and Jack.
The middle of 7 siblings, Art was born on May 21, 1934 to Lena and William Peters in Mather, Manitoba. After taking his first 10 years of education here, followed by an attempt to farm for 5 years, he decided to become a teacher and in 1956, he was off to the Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, where he graduated from Grade 12 in 1958.
After graduating from Teachers’ College in 1959, he began summer school classes and evening classes at the University of Manitoba and, in this way, managed to obtain his B.A. in 1964 and B. Ed. in 1972, while he was teaching at the same time. He started his teaching career in a one-room, grades 1-9 classroom setting in Edinburg, MB, and the following years grades 5-9 in a two-room school at Arnaud, MB. From 1961-89, he was employed with a few schools in the Transcona Springfield School Division, during which time he was involved in all grades from 5-9, however, 17 of these years were at the Junior High level.
During these teaching years, he left Canada for 4 years – 1965-69. The first year, on a Voluntary Service assignment with Mennonite Central Committee, he worked in various capacities at Boys’ Village in Smithville, Ohio, a correctional home and school for boys between the ages of 13-18. Following this he went to Europe where he travelled for one year, exploring about 12 different countries. In the 3rd and 4th year of his “out-of-Canada” experience, he had 2 great years teaching grade 5 at the Frankfurt International School in Germany. While teaching here, on July 12, 1968, he married Leonore Ewert, who was a member of the Berlin Mennonite Church in Germany. She was an exchange student whom he met while he was at Smithville, Ohio.
In 1969, they moved to Winnipeg where he continued his teaching career, from which he retired in 1989. Not yet ready to fully retire, he worked in security with Inner-Tec Security until 1999 and then officially began his retirement. During this time, he took off a few months to recover from open heart surgery, a triple bypass operation in December 1994.
Two wonderful children joined the family, Corinna in 1970 and Derek in 1972. Corinna and her husband Jerry, with their two boys Ryan and Matthew, live in Winnipeg. Derek, his wife Angie and son Jack live in Surrey, BC. He loved them dearly, and saw them as a great blessing, pride and joy in his life.
In their VW camper, the family enjoyed many years of camping at dozens of campsites in Manitoba, also travelling coast to coast in Canada and in the USA. In retirement, Art and Leonore vacationed abroad in Hawaii, Cancun, Puerto Plata, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Germany.
In addition to camping, travelling and gardening, he was an avid Blue Bomber fan as evidenced by the 51 years he was a season ticket holder, and football dominated a good part of many summers.
As an 18-year-old, he felt the need to personalize his faith and dedicate himself to God. As he reached up, God reached down and His love transcended through his body and soul. He was baptized upon this unwavering faith on June 7, 1953 in the Crystal City Mennonite Church by Bishop G.G. Neufeld from the Whitewater Church. Over the years his faith matured as challenges and successes accompanied him on his journey. However, there never was any doubting or denying that moment of truth and decision. This strength, love and assurance of hope was implanted for a lifetime. His membership was transferred to the Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship in May 1970.
Being part of FGMF since 1970 has provided important meaningful spiritual enrichment and support over all these years. Here he had the opportunity to serve in numerous ways: worship leading, doing sermons, children’s stories, Adult Ministries Committee, Planning Committee, and Historian. There was never a time he didn’t look forward to Sunday morning worship and Sunday school. In addition to songs, prayers, stories and sermons, the social aspect of activity and involvement were enjoyable and uplifting.
Since moving to Bethel Place in 2016, he contributed in various ways to the life of this community. He enjoyed meeting new friends and appreciated the entertainment/presentations offered in the MPR. His Christmas lights, tomato plants and flowers on the balcony were enjoyed by everyone who entered the building.
Art touched countless lives. He made you feel at ease and gave you his full attention. A small man bursting with love of life and love for others. He leaves behind memories that will forever be cherished by his family and friends.
We are grateful that he is now at peace.
The family would like to thank Stephanie Lelond at CancerCare and the doctors, nurses and aides in the ER and GB2 wing at Health Sciences Centre for their care.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Fort Garry Mennonite Fellowship, 150 Bayridge Avenue, in Winnipeg. A Faspa (light lunch) will follow in the lower level of the church.
The service will be available online via Zoom with this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/158787495
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.
1160 – 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9
204-787-4143
support.cancercarefdn.mb.ca/memorialdonation
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Arthur’s memorial page using the comment field below.
