PETER PATRICK SHRIER

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PETER PATRICK SHRIER Peter Shrier passed away in his sleep on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the age of 91 years in Canby, Oregon. For some months Peter had been suffering from congestive heart failure. Peter used the last few months to spend quality time with his family. Remaining to forever cherish Peter's memory are his daughter Judy Nikirk, on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, daughter Karen Shrier, of Jarrell, TX; son, Jim Shrier of San Carlos, CA; and his grandchildren, Jasmine Shrier, Colton Shrier, Dan Nikirk and Greg Nikirk. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy Shrier who passed away in 1971 and is buried in Ladywood, Manitoba, where both she and Peter grew up. Peter is to be buried next to his beloved wife at a graveside ceremony at St. Paul and Peter Cemetery in Ladywood, Manitoba, Canada. Peter Shrier grew up on the 640 acre Shrier farm, in Ladywood, Manitoba, the youngest and 11th child of Peter and Anna (nee Ottenbreit) Schreyer. He grew up driving four horse teams and worked in the fields on his own at the young age of 11. When he was 17 he left home and took his first non-farm job in the gold mines in Red Lake, Ontario. Shortly thereafter he married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Anderson. Peter worked his way up to head dynamiter in the mines and then moved on to Terrace Bay, Ontario where he studied to become an electrician at Kimberly Clark's pulp mill. When not at the pulp mill he and his trapper friend invented their own snowmobile to check trap lines by taking the wings off a plane and replacing the pontoons with ski's. He also ran an oil burner business, converting many homes from coal to oil. In 1957 Peter moved his family to a new pulp mill on Vancouver Island, BC. Here in his spare moments he returned to farming, raising as many as 40 pigs at a time for sale to Swift Premium, and feeding his family off of the farm by raising cows and growing gardens. Due to his inventive nature and electrical skills Peter became known to a US company, Lamb Grays Harbor Company, for his ability to install Pulp Mill finishing equipment. That started a whole new career for Peter which took him and his family to the US. He worked Lambs in Aberdeen, WA and travelled throughout the world installing Pulp Mill finishing equipment. Later he worked for Coors, in Golden, CO., Syntex in Palo Alto, CA and finally as an Electrical Inspector for the City of Portland, until his retirement in 1982. After his retirement, Peter bought a motor home and split his time between travelling to favourite spots, and growing fabulous gardens that he shared with his neighbours and family. He created his own varieties of vegetables and flowers by selective pollination and germination of his best bulbs and roots. He took the time to live healthy and at 91 was able to share the wealth of almost a century of learning with those who took the time to chat with him. Never one to sit idle, he did not hesitate to write his congressmen on matters he considered important. Peter finished grade eight and yet was able to use his pioneering spirit to advance in all areas he pursued. Peter once said, to his daughter, there was not any piece of equipment that he did not think he could make better. As such he lived his life inventing, helping others and in doing so challenging his mind. He will be missed by many. He was the last of the 11 children in his family, the youngest member with the nickname 2 foot , a man who grew to mean much to many. Peter spent several of his last years restoring the graves of his grandparents and parents in the Ladywood Cemetery. Now he and Dorothy Shrier will rest in peace amongst their parents and siblings. Peter chose to return to his roots for his final resting place. Peter's graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sts. Peter Paul Roman Catholic Cemetery, Ladywood, Manitoba, Canada. Flowers may be sent to the Wojcik's Funeral Chapel, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 25, 2008