Peter Enders

Peter Frederick Allan Enders, age 85 years of Rosslyn, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully on Monday, June 28, 2021 in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Peter was born in Kakabeka Falls on March 13, 1936 to Nicholas and Maude (nee Gonyou) Enders. He was educated locally and spent his entire career at Great Lakes Forest Products, starting out as a Scaler, working his way through various positions, until retiring as a Superintendent of Wood Delivery on January 1, 1994. Peter and Mabel grew up in the same community, became high school sweethearts and were married on July 16, 1955.

Together, they loved to travel and spent many happy years at their condo in Crystal River Florida. They travelled extensively across Canada and the United States as well as to Europe, China, Venezuela, Cuba, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand.

Peter had a curious intellect and taught himself everything from building houses to car maintenance and had the ability to fix almost any gadget with enough tinkering! Peter was an avid amateur photographer and spent many happy hours in his own dark room. He also had a passion for woodworking, building custom grandfather clocks for himself and each of his daughters. Peter enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting. He was known among his hunting buddies for his mating moose calls.

Growing up on a farm, Peter had a special way with animals. When he had his own family, his girls would rescue cats and dogs and inevitably the new addition would gravitate towards him and become his  "best friend". Even the wild animals liked him. Whenever he went for a walk, either with or without the dogs, the deer would appear and wait for him to say hello. Birds flocked to his bird feeders, which were always well stocked.

Peter valued community service and was always ready to lend a helping hand, whether pulling someone out of a ditch or plowing their driveway. He was one of the original organizers of the Oliver Paipoonge Fire Department and held the positions of Captain, Deputy Chief and Chief over the years. He was also a former member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Kakabeka Branch # 225 as well as the Monday night “Hits & Mrs.” Gun Club.

Family was very important to Peter. He loved family fish frys and barbeques, his home made beer and good times at his perfectly maintained pool. The pool was very much enjoyed by all four generations of the family. Peter loved driving and was the family mechanic for years. He taught his daughters how to drive and made sure they could change a flat tire before they hit the highway.

Peter was predeceased by his parents Nicholas and Maude Enders, his brothers Francis, Bob, and Eugene Enders and his sisters Barbara Cooper and Shirley Farn, as well as two brothers in infancy.

Peter is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Mabel (nee Melo) and 4 daughters Kim (Jeff) van Steenbergen, Kathy (Wayne) Pattison, Helen Gibbons (Dave Wirtz) and Liisa (Colin)Morton. Peter was proud to have 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and was delighted that there are 5 sets of twins in the extended family. Grandchildren are Paul, twins Jenna & Nichole, Jennifer, Heather, Michelle, twins Ashley & David, Grace and James. Great grandchildren are twins Roman & Elsie, Luke, Hannah, Will, Isla, Chase, twins Walker & Finn, Ben, Ellie, Audrey, Abby, twins Ronnie & Freddy and Saphira. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives also survive. A much loved husband, dad, uncle, papa, great papa, and friend to many, Peter will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

The family would like to sincerely thank Drs. Hartford, Anthes, Faghih and Simpson  as well as all the ParaMed employees involved in Peter's  home care especially Carol and Lenore for their attentive care and support.

Due to the present COVID gathering restrictions, a private family service will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021 in the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street at James. Interment will follow in Conmee Cemetery. A video recording of the service will be available on the Everest of Thunder Bay website beginning on Saturday.

Should friends so desire, donations made in memory of Peter to the Oliver Paipoonge Volunteer Fire Department (Cheques can be made payable to the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge - 3250 Hwy 130 Rosslyn ON P7K 0B1. On memo line please indicate “In memory of Peter Enders for fire department training equipment”) or any other charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.