Peter Kanutski – December 18, 1922 – May 11, 2009

On Monday, May 11th, with his granddaughter holding his right hand and his daughter holding his left, our Father, Peter Kanutski, slipped from our grasp to continue his life’s journey.  He was reunited with his wife, Mable, his youngest daughter, Holly and his brothers and sisters, John, Pauline, Mary, Tony, Casmir, Helen and Ed, and others.
Dad was born in Ladywood, Manitoba December 18, 1922. As a young man he accompanied his older sister Mary and her husband Steve Kozier to Dryden to find employment. He worked in the bush cutting wood until his enlistment with the army in the 49th Division of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment in 1943.
Dad married our Mother on December 27, 1943 before he was sent overseas. He was stationed in York until his deployment to the front lines in Italy, where he was wounded on December 28, 1944. He returned to Dryden on a troop train January 10, 1946 and his daughter Doreen was born the following October 29. His son Ron was born 11 months later. The birth of his last child, Holly followed in 1956.
At this time in 1946, Dad was employed at the local mill for forty-five cents an hour. In 1950, Dad built the family home on Colonization Avenue where he remained until his move to Princess Court Nursing Home on June 12, 2007, due to ill health.
Anyone who knew our Father was aware of his passion for the outdoors. Many hours were spent fishing and hunting, and he never forgot a hunt or a hunting partner.  He had great respect for the moose and patiently waited for the season to begin. He also enjoyed picking, and eating copious amounts of blueberries. We shared many treks in the bush and bush lunches with Dad and these jaunts were usually accompanied by song (Country) and hunting stories as we journeyed to our destination. Dad always had a big garden and shared his produce with family and friends.
In earlier years, Dad would work on his days off and after shifts on the Tom Schneider farm; a labour of love for our Father, and an education for us kids. We were allowed to “work” with the threshing gangs, the haying crews, “scuffle” potatoes, dig potatoes, and eat. Hertha Schneider had to have been the best cook in the area and it was considered a privilege to help so that we could enjoy the workers’ meals. We helped Dad to cut and skid wood with the help of Schneider’s horses. It was quality time spent with our Father; a fact not appreciated until later days.
In 1955, Dad achieved his papers to operate a dragline and was also a tower crane operator. He worked at the local mill for over forty-two years where he experienced many changes and met many people.
Our Father, Pete, is survived by his daughter Doreen (Ken and granddaughter Kendra Saville), his son Ron (Hilda), grandson Ron (Sharon and great-grandchildren Julia, Sara, Bonawbae, and John) and Holly’s daughter, Brianne (Kevin) Reimer. Dad is also survived by his younger brothers Mike Kanatski (Doreen) and Stanley (known to us all as Trigger) and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance was held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 14, 2009 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church with Archdeacon Patricia Cleghorn officiating. Interment of ashes followed at the Dryden Cemetery.
Should friends so desire, donations may be made to the Dryden Food Bank or to Northwest Pet Rescue Services through Stevens Funeral Homes “Moffat Chapel” P.O. Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: Kanutski