PETER S. THIESSEN

Condolences & Memories (9 entries)

• For twenty years brother Peter, Peter Janzen, husband to cousin Margaret, and I went lunching all over southern Manioba. Generally Peter-the-Great paid; he could afford it, he said. During lunch, I, the retired professor, held forth and Peter held forth as well, vocally and with his belly. He will be missed by me and by the many locales which we frequented. Rest in peace, alter Junge! - Posted by: Jack Thiessen (brother) on: Sep 14, 2013

• In recent years I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Peter on several levels, first as a member of the council committee for the Village of Lorette, later as a councilor for the RM of Tache, and also as a Realtor and representative of a Winnipeg home builder. Working with Peter on his adventure in Lorette will always be remembered and cherished. I call it an adventure because I truly believe that’s how he viewed it and in the end he made many friends and left the community a better place. Peter was a true gentleman whose handshake was worth more than any contract and a master storyteller. He will be missed! - Posted by: Ron Tardiff (Friend) on: Sep 12, 2013

• I was shocked and saddened - as I am sure we all were - to hear of the sudden passing of Peter Thiessen and there is no doubt that he has left a gap in many of our lives. Having said that, and whilst mourning his death, there is so much more to celebrate about his life. I met Peter at a time in my life when I was in a very dark place and David Wiebe had dragged me like Shakespeare's school boy unwillingly to Goodbye Jitters Toastmasters club. GBJ has always been a very welcoming club and I felt at home from the first moment. Besides David, two other people played a special part in that welcome. One was Mary McKee who remains a dear friend to this day although we are many thousands of miles apart and the other was Peter. From the very first he challenged me with words, with humour and with language and, throughout the time I was fortunate enough to share with him, I loved the linguistic fencing matches in which we engaged. We had time at the meetings but Peter and I were friends outside as well and many is the breakfast I enjoyed with him as he held court, in the various hostelries he frequented, visited throughout the meal by hosts of friends and business acquaintances. Peter was rarely, if ever, predictable and that manifested itself as much in his sudden end to a telephone conversation as it did in the spontaneity of finishing breakfast and whisking his current companion off to see the latest project with which Peter was involved. He was, in my eyes an eccentric in the very best British way and yet remained true to both his roots of the past and those he had put down so firmly in the present. The last time I saw Peter was in hospital and not as a visitor to an elderly man in a bed, but to the orator leading a group of us towards one of the many visions he held for the future. That was truly the Peter I had come to know and love. I will miss Peter very much and am saddened that I will never again, in this world, lock horns with him over the meaning or nuance of a word or hear him reciting from memory poetry from the classical greats. Yes, I will miss him but my life would have been much poorer had I never met him and I celebrate him and my good fortune in having been able to call him a friend. Godspeed Peter. One day we will meet in the hereafter and continue our amicable battle of words. - Posted by: Marcus Summersfield (Friend) on: Sep 12, 2013

• Pete was one of my favorite teachers at the MCI, Gretna, Manitoba in 1958/59. Condolences to Peter's family. - Posted by: A. Petkau (Student in 1958/59) on: Sep 10, 2013

• I am a friend of his daughter Dorothy. I would like to say I am sorry for your loss Dorothy. I hope you and your family look back on your Dad's life and enjoy all the wonderful memories he gave you ! Remember he will always be with you he is a part of you ! I did not know your Dad but I am sure he was a very unique man. I love hearing the stories about your dad. I got a good sense he was a very interesting man. Just keep in mind that he will be watching over you from heaven and smiling because he is so proud of you! Take care, I will pray for you and your family! Big hug, your friend Susan@Ken - Posted by: Susan@Ken Barchuk (Friends of his daughter Dorothy @son-in-law Ralf) on: Sep 10, 2013

• PETER WAS ONE OF MY HIGHLY REVERED TEACHERS AT MCI 1957-8. CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY - Posted by: vern riediger TORONTO (student) on: Sep 10, 2013

• I had not the privilege of meeting Peter, but he must have been an amazing man to have such an amazing son. Rob, my prayers are with you and your family. - Posted by: Dana () on: Sep 10, 2013

• I met Peter in the car business at Brookdale Pontiac Buick in Steinbach many years ago when I sold Rob a car and later sold Peter a car. Which led to an immediate friendship. Yes I agree he was a great communicator and was always interesting to visit with. To Marlies and the family my condolences. Love Cliff Unger. - Posted by: Cliff Unger (Friend, customer.) on: Sep 10, 2013

• I became a member of Good Bye Jitters in 2007 and Mr. Thiessen was my mentor. He was a very good speaker and was always encouraging to me. I am a Realtor so he was very excited to talk to me about his subdivision in Lorette. My sympathies for your loss. Diane Graumann - Posted by: Diane Graumann (friend) on: Sep 10, 2013