PETER (DUTCHIE) HILDEBRAND -

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PETER (DUTCHIE) HILDEBRAND 1920 - 2005 Peacefully on February 13, 2005 with his family by his side, Peter went to be with the Lord. Dad was born on the family farm at Edenburg, MB on September 3, 1920. He worked on the family farm, as well as neighbouring farms. He was working on a threshing gang near Sperling on his 19th birthday, when war was declared. Peter volunteered with the Fort Garry Horse, a tank regiment, where he was known as Dutchie . He was in the first wave of tanks that landed on the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day Invasion. He was seriously wounded three days later, when their tank Snoopy was destroyed by enemy fire. After recovering in England for several months, he returned to the Garry's and fought in Holland and Germany until the end of the Second World War. After the war, Peter took electrical training, and with his cousin David, they formed the company Hildebrand Electric. He sold his share of the business in 1952 and joined Interprovincial Pipelines. During this time he met the love of his life Doris Hiebert of Niverville. They married in the fall of 1953, and were blessed with four children. After 33 years, Pipeline Pete retired, and with Doris moved from Gretna to Altona. Peter loved baseball, curling, golf and watching sports. He was a member of the Elks, Legion and the United Church. Peter was a quiet honest and hardworking man, and could always be counted on for some dry humour. Left to celebrate his life, is his living wife Doris and their children Dwight and children Jacquelyn and Earl, Bill, Janet Paydli (Rod) and children Mallory, Luke, Marian and Braden; Jeff (Debbie) and children Jolene, Dayna and Breanne. The service was held February 16, in Altona. If so desired, donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Alzheimers Society.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 19, 2005