Peter Grunau was born to Peter Grunau and Aganetha (nee Klassen) in 1927, in Burwalde, Ukraine. The family lived in the chaos of World War II before gaining passage to Canada. They travelled across Canada by train until settling in Greendale, BC. Peter Grunau married Anna Margaret Baerg, and had two children – Gerry and Karen. They moved to Vancouver for work, and Peter built a home from scratch for their family on Inverness St and then Culloden St. He worked and studied to get his plumbing journeyman certification, and spent years at Vancouver General Hospital in the plumbing department as a plumber and as a supervisor. Anna Grunau passed away in 1976, after a struggle with cancer.
Peter remarried Katie Penner in December 1977. After retirement, they spent many happy years in Abbotsford, drinking coffee with neighbours, making home improvements, and travelling to Califormia in their RV. Peter passed away on Wednesday, May 8, in the Mission Hospice. He was resourceful, resilient, and independent with a love for storytelling. Peter is survived by Katie, who is living at the Menno Hospital, as well as four siblings, his children and spouses Jane and Peter, five grandchildren and spouses, and one great-grandson Oliver. The family extends warm thanks to the staff at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital and the Mission Hospice for their excellent and compassionate care. A service to honour his life will be held at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Abbostford, BC, on Tuesday, May 14, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mennonite Central Committee.