Obituary of Peter Siemens

On January 4, 1938, Peter Siemens was born in Hague Saskatchewan in the “Aunt’s bedroom” at the home of his grandparents.

He passed away peacefully at home March 1, 2024, after a long battle with cancer.

Peter, Dad, Grandpa, Papa Peter, lived a life that was full. He had so many stories to tell. Childhood stories like walking his dog with the cow down the Main Street of Hague to graze for the day or trying not to fall out of trees while hunting nuisance birds to collect the bounty from the government. Stories from later in life when he and his wife Margaret had a hobby farm and the cows would just follow him around wherever he went or how he would walk around doing chores with kittens in his coat in winter. Also, much later in life how he would simply love to sit and read a story to his great grandchildren, Elexa, Delling, Abigail, Benaiah, Willow and Daniel. 

Peter was the oldest of eight children of Frank and Mary (Fehr) Siemens. Being the oldest came with responsibilities. His family moved to the Mission BC area in 1949 and as the oldest it fell to him to help his mother with his siblings when his father travelled for work. Then in 1953 the family moved to Willow River BC. From here Peter had to catch the train from Willow River into Prince George on Sunday and back home again on Friday to attend high school at Prince George Secondary while living in dorms for grades 10 and 11. The family finally moved to the top of the airport hill in Prince George in 1955. Taught by his aunts as a young boy Peter enjoyed singing and was good at harmonizing. He sang with the Legend Singers in high school and the Caribou Chorus for a little bit after high school.

July of 1959, Peter married his high school sweetheart, Margaret. They had two children Heather and Colin. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary last summer.

In the early 70’s Peter, Margaret, Heather and Colin would go on many camping trips out towards Terrace or to the Okanagan and the beautiful provincial and federal parks of BC and Alberta. Peter spent a lot of time hiking and exploring with his children on these adventures.

Peter read voraciously and especially loved non-fiction books about history. He had a passion for working the small hobby farm they had from 1978 to spring 1991. He loved working the land and working with cattle. He worked hard to provide for his family and the future working for Super Value in Prince George, Fort St John and Quesnel. He briefly worked for Sunlife selling insurance and then worked for McGavin Toastmaster and later McGavin’s Bread for 26 years, retiring in the fall of 1991.

After retirement Peter and Margaret made twenty or more trips to Saskatchewan to reconnect with his extended family.

He developed a passion for building and flying radio-controlled airplanes that continued from the early 1970’s to just a couple of years ago, prior to becoming ill. He built many planes for other people and some of them fondly called them “Peter Built.” Peter and Margaret loved camping at the many radio-controlled airplane float flies and other events they attended since retiring. They both enjoyed these get togethers very much making many lifelong friends. These trips and others they would use to find more time to spend with their daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Lovingly remembered by: Wife Margaret (Allen) Siemens; Daughter Heather Siemens; Grandson John Sastaunik (Bailey Gibb) and their children Willow and Daniel; Grandson Matthew (Lindsay) Sastaunik and their children Elexa, Delling, Abigail and Benaiah. Sister-in-law Elsie Siemens; Brother’s Henry (Jacquline), Don; Sister’s Trudy (Vern) Baylis, Gloria (Wayne) Henrikson. Many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.

Predeceased by Son Colin Siemens, Parents Frank (Rempel) Siemens and Mary (Fehr) Siemens; Sister Maria Siemens, Brother’s John Siemens, David Siemens and sister-in-law Kathy (Tessovitch) Siemens. Niece: Nicole Siemens

We would like to thank Dr. Grace Martins and Dr. Nicole Robbins for looking after  the family through this journey; the palliative nurses Jodi, Terri and Kori and nursing student Sam for their gentle, professional care for Peter and his family; and the Home Care Aides that were so kind and caring to us all.

At Peter’s request there will be no funeral.