DR. PETER HARVEY WARKENTIN

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DR. PETER HARVEY WARKENTIN Dr. Peter Harvey Warkentin, aged 65, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, passed away, surrounded by family, on June 27, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Peter has lost this battle, but the war will be won! Peter was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 29, 1950. At a young age Peter overcame childhood polio and lived with the effects for his entire life, never complaining. Growing up in a military family, Peter travelled across Canada living in and attending school in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and eventually graduating from high school in Selkirk, Manitoba. Peter had an incredible desire to learn, as a result he graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1984 with a BSc, MSc(Hons) in Microbiology, Biochemistry. Peter then travelled to Sweden where he lived for several years and graduated in 1997 with a PhD in Physics from the University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden. Throughout his adult life Peter enjoyed immersing himself in many forms of art, stained glass, sketching, painting, wood and soapstone carving, jewellery making and his latest adventure, computer painting, completing many portraits of friends and family as well as their pets. Peter is survived by his brother Alan and wife Theresa, brother Jack, sister Maryanne and husband John, brother Dennis and wife Melanie and half-brother Allan Isfeld and wife Nancy. Peter also leaves to mourn his numerous nieces and nephews whom he cherished, as well as many relatives and friends. Special thanks to close friends Bonnie and Jürgen for their many years of friendship and support. Peter was predeceased by his parents, Alfred Park and Dolores (Uhlin) Park, sister Anita (Park) Hrabi, infant sister Laurie Park and infant nephew Jamie Park, all whom he missed tremendously. Peter dedicated his life to science, as a result, when diagnosed several years ago, he chose not to follow the traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments that most of the medical community currently swear by. Instead, Peter upheld his belief in medical cannabis and its healing capabilities, unfortunately for people suffering from diseases such as cancer, medical cannabis for cancer treatments is for the most part currently unavailable to patients in Manitoba. As a result it is difficult, if not impossible to treat the illness consistently and at the proper dosage. Hope is on the horizon, Peter was a relentless and tireless activist and fought hard with members of the medical community trying to get medical cannabis prescribed for the treatment of cancer, and not only for himself. The attitudes are changing, so much so that cannabis clinics and the availability of medical cannabis such as Phoenix Tears will be a reality here in Manitoba in the near future, too late for many, but help for the future. Peter always said, "It may be too late for me, but I am doing this for the kids". His war will be won! The family of Peter Warkentin wishes to thank Peter's home care workers, his social worker Charlene Epp and caretaker Linda, also his palliative care nurse Monique Bourka for all their help over the last few years. Thank you also to the nurses, doctors, staff and volunteers of the St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Unit,who all made his final weeks as peaceful and pain free as possible, to all of you we are eternally grateful. In Peter's memory, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba, or to the St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Unit. At Peter's request, cremation has taken place and a private family gathering will be held to celebrate his life. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements. www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 09, 2016