Peter Wozniak

It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Peter (born Dieter) Wozniak on January 5, 2024, at the age of 83 years. Peter was a devoted husband to his wife of 53 years, Diane (English). He was the best dad in the world to his two daughters: Christine (Ken) and Lisa (Justin). He was known as Opa (Opy) to his cherished grandchildren: Mitchell, James and Claire, Kylie, and Emma. He is survived by his sister Ursula in Leduc and his nephew Hubert and family in Germany. He was predeceased by his parents and two brothers.

Born in Blumberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, Peter immigrated to Alberta with his mother and sister and stepfather in 1953. They soon settled in Wetaskiwin. The nuns at the Catholic school changed his name to Peter as they thought Dieter was too hard for Canadians to pronounce so he became Peter to his Canadian family and friends and Dieter to his German family. He began working to help support his family when he was 13, delivering groceries on his bike at first until learning the trade of meat cutting at the Wetaskiwin Co-Op store. He moved to Vancouver, BC, in 1968, where he worked as a meat cutter at Swift’s and as a bartender on weekends. He met the love of his life on a blind date on October 26, 1969 and they were married the following spring on May 9, 1970. Peter was transferred to Swift’s in Edmonton and he and Diane moved to St. Albert in 1973 where they raised their two daughters who moved back to St. Albert as adults to be close to their parents.

Above all else, Peter valued spending time with his family. He helped coach Lisa’s soccer team and attended Christine’s gymnastics competitions. He was the baby-whisperer when his twin granddaughters were born, always there to soothe them to sleep and hold their hands as they walked to the park. There were frequent sleepovers with his granddaughters, playing board games and cards with the family, attending the granddaughters’ gymnastics meets and basketball games. Recently, time with the family included memorable trips to a cabin in Golden, BC. Hands down he gave the best hugs, especially to those he loved most. He gave a firm handshake to everyone else, including prospective boyfriends of his two treasured daughters.

He enjoyed camping and fishing and shared this passion with his family, much to Diane’s chagrin on cold mornings in a tent in Alberta. He was never happier than when he was pitching a tent at a campsite beside a lake surrounded by his girls or in a boat with his fishing buddies. He loved puttering around his garden and yard. He always had cherry tomatoes ready when his granddaughters visited in the summer. He turned to cooking in his retirement, specializing in German dishes, meat pies, rhubarb jam, and pea soup, as well as the best cookies ever – both peanut butter and oatmeal chocolate chip.

Peter was a talented artist, and especially loved painting portraits of nature, often painting pictures for family and friends. Professionally, Peter worked as a meat cutter for over 35 years at Swift’s in Vancouver and Edmonton (which then became Gainers and Maple Leaf.)

Pete was also an avid sports fan, never missing hockey, curling, baseball, and soccer games on TV, and complaining about all Edmonton’s sports teams. Later in life, he stayed active through floor curling and walking. He loved Westerns, he was always whistling, and he had the best nicknames for his daughters and grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Memories Funeral Home, 13403 St Albert Trail. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the University Hospital Foundation.