SKAANING: Peter, was born in Randers, Denmark on March 11, 1945. In 1951 he immigrated to St. Lambert, Quebec with his parents, Svend and Emma Skaaning (predeceased). Peter attended McGill University and studied Agriculture. In January 1969, he became employed at the B.C. Artifical Insemination Centre (later renamed Western Genetics). His love for agriculture inspired us to buy a ''hobby farm'' in the Fraser Valley, which was and is a perfect way to raise children. Our farm continues to be very much enjoyed by our six grandchildren today!
As a husband he gave me wings to fly and always treated me as an equal with much love and encouragement to ''do it all''. As a father, he gave us the opportunity to experience so many things, and instilled in us a sense of independence and the belief that we could do anything we set out to do. We know he was proud of us all.
After suffering a massive brain aneurysm on November 23, 1998, he has spent the past six years in an extended care facility. This was very difficult, for all who knew and loved him, as he had many times expressed a zest for quality of life. On February 18, 2005 he passed away at the age of 59. He will be sadly missed by his wife Suzanne, daughter Kimberly Waterfield, husband Todd and children Cody, Kailyn, Keegan and Colton, son Jens-Erik, wife Kelly and children Emma and Sage, daughter Kiersten and fiance Daryl Heppner.
We have to toast him not with ''Here's to a Long Life'' but ''Here's to a Good Life''. He is now free of what he had the strength to survive and in our hearts we know that we have to let him go. All of us who loved him are happy for him, although we will always miss him.
Suzanne, Kim, Erik and Kiersten
Thank you to all our family and friends who have supported us over the past six years, and a very heartfelt thank you to Dr. Leslie Sand and all the staff at Maple Hill Extended Care for their compassion. Our family will be having a private memorial for Peter. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Langley Memorial Foundation for Maple Hill.