Peter Early

Our much-loved husband, father and grandfather (Peter, Dad, Grandpa, Papa) died early December 24, 2019 at home, with his wife Sheila at his side as he had wished. Peter was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and spent his early life there.

Peter was predeceased by his parents W. Edward (1980) and E. Irene Early (1996). He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sheila Dawn ( nee Diehl), his daughters Lisa Marie Early ( Patrick Luce ) of Calgary, Alberta, Lindy Dawn McDowall (Scott McDowall) of Langley, BC, four adored and loved grandchildren Matthew, Daniel and Emma McDowall and Keira Early, as well as his brother Leonard Early of Toronto, Ontario.

Peter attended Wilson Elementary School and City Park Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon. He had an adventuresome time in high school often visiting the office of his father (Vice Principal) or his uncle (Principal) of the school. Needless to say there may have been repercussions when he got home from school too! There are many family stories about his adventures as a youth and teenager.

In 1964 he met Sheila and it was truly love at first sight! Sheila remembers telling her mother that she had met the man she was going to marry after their first date. They were married 15 months later in September 1965. Lisa was born in 1970 and Lindy in 1974 completing their family. Peter started his work career with British American Oil in Saskatoon driving a tanker truck. BA became Gulf Oil and eventually Petro Canada. Peter moved into management and had Gulf Centers in Shaunavon and Regina, Saskatchewan. At one point in Regina, he decided to go with his love of cars and sell them. However, the oil business called him back and he returned to what was now Petro Canada. In 1988, the family decision was made to move to British Columbia where they settled in Surrey with Peter working in Richmond and later Surrey until he retired in 2000 due to his long-standing cardiac status.

Peter became Sheila’s traveling companion to Emergency and Forensic Nursing conferences all over Canada and the USA making life-long friends along the way. Kihei, Maui was the go to winter vacation place so many times count was lost. All the Hawaiian Islands were eventually visited but Kamaole Nalu 106 was always returned to. Atlantic Canada and Newfoundland were wonderful trips, however, Peter loved Emma Lake, Saskatchewan best. He inherited the Early cabin built in 1936 on Sunset Bay and it was his true happy place. Each summer his family spent the summer months at “the Lake” (an advantage of having teacher parents!). Fishing, boating, swimming and simply being free to roam inspired his undying love for the cabin and families of Sunset Bay. To this day, there is the “Lake family” that is now four generations for the Early cabin.

Peter was a die-hard Detroit Red Wings and Gordie Howe fan. He loved his Wings and had met Gordie a few times in Saskatoon where Mr. Hockey is an icon. His collection of Red Wing merchandise is huge. The Saskatchewan Rough Riders is the only football team he ever supported. A day with both a Wings game and a Riders game was the best, throw in a burger and life was grand.

Pete's personality was such that he made and kept lifelong friends from childhood, teen years and adulthood. His sense of humor made you laugh even when you did not want to laugh, he had a special smile and look in his eye that could not be duplicated.

Peter endured cardiac ill health for several years with a cardiac arrest in 2007, several ablations and other medical issues until his body simply needed to rest. He was courageous and brave as he was determined to be part of his daughters’ and grandchildren’s lives.

The family would like to thank Royal Columbian Hospital Congestive Heart Failure Clinic and Cardiac Units 2S and 2N staff for their care of Peter over the years as well as his physicians Dr. J. Bonet, Dr. S. Tung, Dr. J. LeMaitre. We send a special thanks to Brian and Dorothy Beckett, longtime friends who often stayed with Peter when Sheila had to be away for work. Brian and Peter were lifelong friends who met at age 10. An inurnment will take place in the summer at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Donations in Peter’s memory may be sent to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation on https://rchfoundation.com/featured-campaigns/