Peter Rudolf Hunziker
April 3rd, 2020
Our family is sad to announce that Peter passed away peacefully at the Bethany Care Center in Cochrane on Friday evening April 3, 2020.
Peter Hunziker was born on May 9, 1938 in Zurich, Switzerland, the son of Arthur and Ida Hunziker. He and his older brother Arthur and younger sister Verena grew up in Mettmenstetten. Peter apprenticed as a pâtissier in Montreux, and later as a chef at the Kongresshaus in Zurich. Peter travelled and worked in the culinary arts in hotels and resorts throughout the world and on the ocean liner S.S. Rotterdam, on which in 1959, he sailed around the world.
Peter immigrated to Canada in 1962, initially to work in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Later he worked for Canadian Pacific Hotels in Banff, Winnipeg, New Brunswick, and Edmonton, and on the US Air Force Base in Goose Bay, Labrador. Peter began flying lessons in Winnipeg to improve his English. He earned private and commercial pilot's licences, and flew small airplanes recreationally for a number of years.
In 1966, Peter moved to Edmonton and soon met Margaret, his wife of almost fifty years. They were married in 1970, and together owned and operated the 815 Snack Bar in Calgary for four years. Peter then worked as a chef at Eaton’s Department store, and later as a chef and instructor at James Fowler High School in Calgary, until the arthritis with which he struggled for many decades forced him to stop working in 1997.
Peter and Margaret built a home on the top of the Big Hill in Cochrane, where they raised two sons: Michael and Kurt. The family enjoyed camping, and traveling extensively around Western Canada and the United States in their motor home, and on more adventurous trips to Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Europe. Peter always loved travel and continued to do so until ill health no longer permitted it. His last trip, a 2017 Alaska cruise with his wife, sons, and six grandchildren was particularly special, and they were all able to spend last Christmas with him in Cochrane as well.
Peter was a talented gardener, craftsman, and artist. He made wooden furniture, crafts and models, painted and continued to sketch until the very last days of his life. His work was celebrated by and brought joy to visitors and fellow residents in the care homes in which he spent his final months.
Peter is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret, their sons Michael (Naomi) and grandsons Ari, Noah, and Judah in Toronto, Ontario; and Kurt (Julie) and grandchildren Harrison, Amelie, and Lewis in Sydney, Australia. His brother pre-deceased him, and he is survived by his sister and several nephews and nieces in Switzerland. Peter and his family were also particularly close with his brothers and sisters in law, Hugh and Christine Campbell, and Rob and Bonny Badmington, and their children who reside in St. Albert, Calgary, Nova Scotia, and Edmonton.
The family very much appreciates the care provided by Alberta Health and countless caring medical professionals over many years. In particular, the family would like to thank Peter’s physicians at Foothills Medical Center and in Cochrane, his pharmacists, Cochrane Home Care, and the many wonderful nurses and health care aides in hospitals, and at the Bow-Crest and Bethany Care Centers.
If desired donations can be made in Peter's name for medical research at:
https://cumming.ucalgary.ca/research/cccr,or https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/about-us/
Cremation has occurred. A Celebration of Peter's Life will be held when everyone can gather together again.
Messages:
Margaret my condolences on the death of your husband. He put up a good fight for many years. I remember seeing him going to swim at the old pool. May he rest in peace.
Ann and I send our condolences to you dear friend Margaret, and to your sons Michael and Kurt families on the passing of Peter, a man of remarkable achievements and character. We have such great memories of several visits and being included in gatherings among your many friends. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Blessings Ann and Larry Carr
Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. We know that you have many special memories that will bring you great comfort in the days ahead. With sincere sympathy,
Dear Margaret, Michael, Kurt and families. We have been thinking of you and we want you to that we send our love and sympathy at this time. Peter was such a vital knowledgeable and interesting person. We enjoyed many special times at your home on the hill. We have special memories and we know your memories will bring comfort to you. God bless you all. With our love and sympathy. Jim, Lydia and family
Dear Margaret, Michael, Kurt and family We are so sorry to hear of Peters passing. We remember many fine times at your home and years of Shrove pancake suppers that Peter organized. Thank you for the lovely obituary, we learned a lot more about Peter’s life Many blessings on you Glen and Brenda Sine
Please accept our deepest condolences Margaret. Both Sonya & I always enjoyed talking to Peter especially about flying and his travels. I will always remember him for some of his terrific lunches served at Fowler. We would drive over the noon hour from Jack James HS to Fowler HS just for his lunches and if we had a meeting there we could always expect some delightful morsels from his kitchen. He will be missed. See you at YYC. XXX S&M
Dear Margaret and family, Please accept my sincere sympathy at this very hard time. With this terrible virus going on, I hope you were able to be with Peter at Bethany. Take care. Sheila xo
Dear Margaret and family Peter will always stay in my heart. He was more than the cousin of my mother, he was like a brother to her and my father. I will pray for him the next time I'm in Maloja. Maloja, a very important place to him and his family in his youth. Now a special place to me and my family. Peter, ich werde Dich in ehrender Erinnerung behalten. Die Zeit zusammen mit Dir und Deiner Familie in Kanada werden mir unvergesslich bleiben. Danke für Alles. Gott segne Dich und behüte Dich. In herzlicher Anteilnahme, with deep and sincere sympathy Priska mit Erich und Andri, Zürich und Maloja
My sincere condolences in the loss of this man. He no longer have to suffer the pain.
Dear Margaret, Michael, Kurt and family members I share your loss of Peter Hunziker, my late Mom's cousin, who lived in Cochrane for so long. Peter was a true Hunziker - a mix of his father Arthur and my grand-father Armin Hunziker. Visiting you sitting in your dining room with his parents furniture and a wonderful view it was like sitting in Mettmentstetten, where Peter grew up. But the Canadian mountains were quite bigger than the Swiss mountains, one could see from Sonnenberg, Mettmentstetten. Your hospitality was unforgettable! We were always very sorry about Peter's arthritis... a Hunziker health problem. To see how much Peter loved you, Margaret and your sons, Michael and Kurt was touching our hearts! My mother Erika Schaub-Hunziker and my father Theo Schaub were very happy about the wonderful relationship they shared with Peter and you, Margaret! You were not only family - you were also friends! Much love from Switzerland, Evi
What a Beautiful and Informative Obituary Margaret I Always Knew Peter was Special But never realised How Special Incredible that at the young age of 21 He Actually Sailed Around The World Amazing All he accomplished since migrating to Canada, Learning to Fly, And Actually Earning both Private and Commercial Pilots Licenses Looking Forward to seeing you Soon , As Soon as this Pandemic is Over and Life gets back to Normal PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Sent With LOVE Edith Laura Sheldon Bonny and Dave
Dear Margaret Dear Kurt and family Dear Michael and family Thank you Margaret for your wonderful and lovable obituary from Peter and for sending it to me. My warm condolences. For Peter it was probably also a relief from his pain. Although I think he was in good hands at BOW-CREST Long Term Care. From time to time we made phone calls before I had to go to the clinic. He also sent me some of his wonderful drawings. I often think of late September, early October 2017 when I was able to visit you in Cochrane. it was a nice and interesting time with you. Peter was my co-cusin, his mother Ida Hunziker was the cusine of my father August Fröhlich. When I was young I often spent my holidays in Mettmenstetten with his family. Later, in the early 1960s, Peter already lived in Canada, and I in California, we went on a trip together to Los Angeles and some national parks. After that we lost our contact. Years later there was a letter contact and now and then a telephone. In autumn 2017, I visited my brother in California and I decided to visit Peter and Margaret on this occasion in Cochrane. It was a nice time with you. Peter was in a wheelchair, but still quite mobile. We visited beautiful, interesting, well-known places nearby and far away. I will never forget Peter and I will always keep him in my heart as a kind and helpful person. Margaret, I wish you a lot of strength, confidence and god blessings for the coming time, especially in today's difficult time. With sincere sympathy Verena (Vreni) Fritz-Fröhlich, Lucerne Switzerland