Obituary of Peter Evaschesen

After suffering a stroke in the early morning hours on July 23rd we were given the gift to come together to say good- bye to our beloved Papa Pete. Many friends and family were able to say good- bye to him in person and by phone and messages before his passing on July 26th, 2022, and we will be forever grateful for that. Pete’s passion was fishing whether it was up at his fish camp at Cree River Lodge, Salmon Fishing in BC, Ice Fishing at Deschambault or at Waskesiu he just loved to fish. Even when his boat broke down this spring he went to the marina and cast off the peer sometimes twice a day as he would find a way to get out there and catch his limit. He loved teaching people to fillet fish and would often come back from the fish filleting shack so excited that he met someone new and taught them how to fillet, that’s just who he was. Peter also loved hunting and in his earlier years his parents would make an annual trip and go with him each fall. He would often be out at his hunting cabin at Bannock. He would get so excited for his hunting trips each fall and he always graciously invited so many to come stay with him. He loved getting the potbelly stove fired up in the middle of the one room cabin and get a big meal prepared and have everyone gather around the table, those times were very special to him. He would often drive out to Bannock and make a cup of coffee and look out the west window and just say how peaceful it was out there. He truly loved being there. Peter loved working, so much so he would work right until his last day before his stroke. He never lost his zest for getting up and going to work each day after his morning coffee at A&W to take in the local news. Lol His last day of work was the Melfort Parade and he was so excited to have many friends watch from his shop and he got them all coffee and cookies from his famous cookie tin. Whether it was cookies, candies and even sometimes moose sausage he always wanted to treat his family, friends and customers with a treat because that was the generous person he was. Peter was so well known in both Melfort and Waskesiu as he was always out and about in both communities on his bike always taking time to visit and making one liners to make people laugh. He was truly so fun to be around and he would make the most simple tasks like picking raspberries or putting on a fish hook seem so exciting. It was his funny, infectious personality that made him so well liked by all that knew him. He had the ability to make everyone feel included and was always the first person to lend a helping hand when people needed it. Peter was married to Beth nee (McLean) for 53 years and they enjoyed many summers at Waskesiu together and winter trips to Arizona and Mexico over the years. They had two children Shawn (Tara) and Susan (Scott) and four grandchildren Emma, Josh, Matthew and Chase who he absolutely adored! He always looked so forward to go watch the boys play baseball, football, and hockey and watch Emma`s dance. The grandkids always teased that grandpa still acted like a 16 year old and that’s why he always had so much fun each day. Peter had recently just bought an electric bike and was cruising like a kid all around Melfort on it having fun. He was so excited about his new bike and after his grandkids tried it out they said it was the high light of their summer and said grandpa really knew how to have fun. Peter was born on June 29th, 1941 in Regina SK the third of seven children. He had many happy memories growing up on a raspberry farm and often talked about all the big family meals his mom would make and happy memories they made there with his siblings. Peter started Accordion lessons at a young age and then later played Trombone in the Regina Police Boys Band. At age thirteen Peter realized his passion for flying and enrolled in the 34th Squadron of Air Cadets in Regina. Just over three years later he received a flying scholarship from the Royal Canadian Air Force going every day after school to fly at age 16. Peter joined the Regina Flying Club where he was able fly many cool planes such as a Piper PA 18 and Cessna 172. Peter was honored in 1958 for not only becoming one of the youngest pilots in Canada making him a Corporal but placed 7th overall of 328 scholarships given. Peter received a lot of media attention for this at the time with MacLean’s magazine writing an article on him and CKCK CTV interviewing him. Peter went on to join the Canadian Air Force training in Saskatoon and Centralia Ontario where he would get to fly many amazing airplanes and see some of the best pilots in the country. After the Air Force Peter became a manager with Woolco back in Regina first and then throughout Western Canada with Victoria being his favorite city and this is where he developed his love of Scuba Diving. He eventually came back to Saskatchewan wanting to start a business. Peter ended up moving to Melfort and establishing One Hour Cleanitizing and he and his brother ended up starting up eight other plants all over Saskatchewan over the years and selling them, but he kept his Melfort plant until the end and he enjoyed going to work each day. Peter created many happy memories with his family and friends at Waskesiu each summer especially the incredible potluck fish fries. Peter would work so hard to make sure he had caught enough fish and every fish deboned and would fry all night with a drink in his hand, serving everyone that attended. He truly loved Waskesiu saying it was his favorite place on earth and we are so grateful he was able to spend a month there right before his passing. Peter was predeceased by his father Michael, his mom Jean and his siblings John, Christine and Michael. Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorial contributions in memory of Peter may be directed to the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation