It is with heavy hearts that family and friends of Peter Stemkens announce his passing on March 27, 2016 at Tudor House Personal Care Home in Selkirk. Peter was born April 7, 1941, in the town of Roggel, province of Limburg, Netherlands, during the Occupation. He was the seventh child, born to Michael Stemkens and Elizabeth Moonen, growing up in the family bakery and store. At the age of 18 he immigrated to Canada, following his brother Joe, and ended up in Winnipeg not knowing anyone nor understanding English. He went to work in the sheet metal trade at various jobs and worked in the Peace River Region of Alberta, Calgary, then ending up back in Winnipeg installing furnaces, By the late 1960s he began to work for the Provincial Government as a stationary engineer and was posted at the old Fort Osborne Barracks, Headingley Jail, and the Women's Jail at Portage where he took retirement at the age of 55. After returning to Winnipeg, he moved out to Headingley for a while, lived in the Raeburn / Marquette area for about 20 years, and finally retiring to Gimli. Peter was always passionate with hobbies and projects being very creative when it came to machine repair or building construction. He enjoyed flying airplanes for a while, tried farming, built several buildings, hunted, fished, travelled back home to Europe annually for the winter, and greatly enjoyed his weekly golf games at Inwood Golf Course. Unfortunately Peter's health took a turn for the worse four years ago leaving him incapacitated with dementia. However, Peter still had a good attitude and enjoyed life despite having to be under constant medical supervision. Anyone who ever met Peter would never forget him and would count him as a friend for life. He was friendly, kind, helpful, loyal, and you always left Peter's company feeling good. He leaves behind his sisters Toos and Mia, in the Netherlands, brother Hubert of Victoria, BC, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers, and one sister. Thank you to all staff of Teulon Hospital, Gimli Hospital, and Tudor House in Selkirk who took care of Peter these last four years. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 2, 11:00 a.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Home, 433 Main St., Stonewall, Manitoba. Interment will be at Ossawa Cemetery, eight miles west of PTH 248 on PTH 227, with a reception at Meadow Lea Hall. Donations in Peter's memory can be made to Tudor House Personal Care Home, 800 Manitoba Ave., Selkirk, Manitoba, R1A 2C9. God Bless You Peter.