Mr. George William Peterson

June 2, 1923 to November 10, 2015

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father and grandfather, who passed away peacefully at the Edgemont Retirement Home on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at the age of 92 years.

In 2013, George was predeceased by his cherished wife of 57 years Marie (nee Matheson). He was also predeceased by his Father, Mother and sisters Gerta, Viola, Bertha and Nan.

George is lovingly remembered and already missed by his son Stuart Peterson and daughter Joanne (Steve) Chilton; grandchildren Jeremy and Stuart (Karah) Chilton and Erica (Shawn Roppelt), Anne-Marie and Thomas Peterson; as well as his brother-in-law Stuart (Peggy) Matheson.

George Peterson was born on June 2, 1923 in Calgary, Alberta to Anna (nee Swanson) and Peter August Peterson.

George’s father emigrated from Kalmar, Sweden to Grassy Lake, Alberta, Canada in 1912, and was followed by his wife and George’s sisters in 1913. George was the only member of his family Canada born. He grew-up in a number of small Southern Alberta towns including Purple Springs, Cowley, Brant, and Lethbridge.

George joined the Royal Canadian Air force in 1943 where he trained as a pilot and gunner on a Lancaster bomber.

George found his way from the one room school houses he attended as a child to the halls of the University of Alberta where he graduated with a degree in Geology in 1949. After graduating, George worked for Western Geophysical and also spent time looking for gold in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. He joined Imperial Oil in 1952. His long career at Imperial took him to Edmonton, Alberta; Chatham, Ontario; Dawson Creek, British Columbia and finally back to his home town Calgary, Alberta. He also spent some time in Tuktoyuktuk, Northwest Territories.

George enjoyed playing baseball in his younger days, and also was an avid curler, skier and golfer. George met Marie through the Imperial Oil Curling Club and they were married on November 5, 1955. George would never pass up a game of cards especially crib and bridge. He was gregarious, engaging and had a wicked sense of humour.

George retired from Imperial Oil in 1983. He then worked for P.J. Toole & Cote as a realtor until 1989. George’s retirement years were spent travelling, providing community service and sharing time with friends and family. Early in 2012 George and Marie moved into the Edgemont Retirement Center. Sadly, Marie passed away in 2013 and George remained at the Edgemont where he lived out his remaining years.

The family is forever grateful to the staff at the Edgemont who took such amazing care of him up to his very last moments. Additional thanks goes out to Neal Monaghan and Rick Brill for their kindness to George over the last couple of years.

A final special thanks to Dr. Israel Belenkie, Tracy French RN and all the staff at the Cardiac Function Clinic at the Foothills Hospital for keeping his heart ticking from 1989 to 2015. George called Dr. Belenkie the “miracle worker” and Tracy the “angel” for keeping him alive as long as they did. Our family is grateful for your dedication and devotion to his health and appreciates the extra time we had to spend with him thanks to your efforts.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive N.W., Calgary, AB. If friends so desire, memorial donations can be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 100, 119 – 14 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca