Peter van Schalk

Peter “Pete” van Schalk, on December 13, 2017 at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario after a tenacious 15-month battle with mesothelioma cancer. He was 62. Pete was born in Pickering, Ontario and raised on a farm near Mount Forest, Ontario. The middle child of a ‘bunch of ragamuffins’ as he termed it – four brothers and two sisters, he left home in his late teens and travelled widely to Morocco, throughout the U.S. and Canada. For the past 30 years, he worked at ArcelorMittal Dofasco. Trained as an instrumentation technician with a deep passion for science, he was highly respected for his skill and conscientiousness, and liked and admired by his colleagues. Pete adored his wife Maggie, the sunshine of his life, and loved his stepsons, Scott and Collin. He was an avid wind-surfer, cyclist and rollerblader, who took advantage of any good weather to don wet suit or his trademark blue jeans, soccer team shirt and visor, and head outdoors. He and his wife Maggie loved to travel; in his last year, they enjoyed trips to Rochester; New York; the Maritimes; the West Coast; Rio de Janeiro; and Germany. Pete is survived by Maggie Wilson, his beloved wife of 30 years; his stepsons Scott Wilson and Collin Wilson; his siblings Mary Lou van Schaik (John); John van Schaik; Steven van Schaik (Barbara Muir); Richard van Schaik; David van Schaik (Cathy de Brabandere); and Patricia van Schaik (David). The family would especially like to thank family physician Dr. Janice Koole, oncologist Dr. Rosalyn Juergens, and the palliative care team on the Oncology Intensive Care Unit at Juravinski Hospital. Friends and family will gather at TRUSCOTT, BROWN & DWYER FUNERAL CHAPEL, 1309 King St.East, Hamilton (across from Gage Park at the Delta) on Tuesday, December 19th from noon to 1:00 p.m. at which point we will be celebrating Pete’s life together. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Mesothelioma Foundation, 4302-50 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4W 0A3 are welcome. Online condolences may be made at www.tbdfuneralchapel.com