Sheila Wiecke

On October 19, 2023, Sheila passed away peacefully in her apartment at Tapestry Wesbrook in Vancouver, BC. She was 90.

Sheila was born in Nanjing, China on June 14, 1933. She had a wonderful childhood in Beijing, China raised by her aunt with many cousins. She came to Canada in 1956 on a student visa as a person without a country. She met the love of her life, Peter, shortly after arriving at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She and Peter raised two children and lived a life of adventure and discovery. They weren’t afraid to embark on any trip. They travelled the world and spent many months in their VW van in Europe and North America and had marvelous canoe trips on BC’s west coast with close friends. She also helped Peter in his office for many years, did volunteer work at the Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver Museum, and the West Vancouver Seniors Centre, hiked with the North Shore Hikers, and wrote with her creative writing class. Sheila was a homemaker for much of her life and one of her greatest joys was cooking amazing meals for all. Her Chinese feasts were the best! She was the most amazing Mum and Nana to her children and grandchildren. Her spirit and zest for life has been passed on to all. She will be missed.

Sheila was predeceased by her loving husband, Peter, in 2018 after more than 62 years of marriage. She is survived by her children, Louisa (Neal) and Kenneth (Debbie), grandchildren, Paul (Katharine), Joel (Joanna), Erica (Craig), Alex and Maddie and six great-grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for her and Peter sometime in the new year, in person and on-line.

Peter Wiecke

Born in Laband, Silesia, Germany December 8, 1928,

Died West Vancouver, BC, Canada July 18, 2018

Peter grew up during the prewar and war years in Germany. After the war Peter trained as an electrician

Peter came to Canada in 1952 travelling to Edmonton where he found work quickly. Peter worked at many of major projects as an electrician including Uranium City Mine, Kemano Powerhouse, and the DEW Line in Tuktoyuktuk.

At Kemano, one of the engineers working on the project told Peter that he was pretty smart and should consider getting an engineering degree. In 1956, after working in Tuk for 18 months Peter came to UBC as a mature student. Peter found UBC difficult at the start as he had only finished grade 10 in Germany. He persisted and graduated in 1961 as an Electrical Engineer.

During first year at UBC, Peter met Shi Mei Peng (Sheila) and was completely smitten. The following summer they married. Their children, Louisa and Kenneth were born before Peter graduated.

Peter worked most of his career as a specialist in the Medium Density Fibreboard Industry (MDF). Initially with Columbia Engineering and then with supplier Sunds Defiberator. Peter worked on the first MDF plant in Deposit, NY and was involved with many of the first hundred plants built around the world.

Through his work and Sheila's insistence Peter and Sheila traveled the world. Many of their adventures involved canoeing or a VW Van. Peter loved driving.

One of his greatest joys was sitting around the dinning room table having a delicious dinner prepared by Sheila with his children and grandchildren (Paul, Joel, Erica, Alex, and Maddy) and discussing local or world events or just admiring the grandkids.