Obituary of Elmar Reiner PETERSEN

August 23, 1935 – Castrop-Rauxel, Germany
June 17, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Elmar Reiner Petersen, beloved husband of Edeltraut (Trudy) Petersen (nee Thiermermann), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the age of 85 years.

Elmar was born in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany, on August 23, 1935.
He immigrated to Canada in 1957. He was an Upholsterer and Bricklayer by trade and found his place in Calgary, AB, and sent for his bride to join him in the spring of 1958, when they were married at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Calgary.

Elmar worked hard all of his life, always making sure that he could provide for his family and shared what he could with other friends and family that visited our beautiful country. He never seemed to meet a stranger, and could talk to anyone where ever he went.
Elmar accomplished much through his life and was particularly proud of his carving, enchanting the neighbourhood children and all of us with his gift for bringing wood to life.

He will be most remembered for his sense of humor and his epic walk from Calgary to Banff the first Christmas he was in Canada. Elmar was also an avid fisherman for most of his life. Spending many days on lakes all over Alberta and in BC (in any kind of weather), he was affectionately known as 7 Fish Elmar at the lakes in the Columbia Valley. 

Elmar was also an active member of the St. Boniface Catholic Parish in Calgary.

Besides his loving wife, Elmar is survived by two of his daughters, Elke Petersen (Perry Osmond) and Monica Calvitti (Rino Calvitti); grandson Dustin Coulter; and son-in-law Larry Coulter. Elmar is also survived by his cousin and family in Arizona, as well as cousins, nieces, great-nieces and nephews in Germany, and friends in both Germany and Canada. He will also be missed by his dog Stella and grand-dogs Jake, Bailey, Klondike and Aspen.

Elmar was predeceased by his daughter Susan Coulter (nee Petersen), his sister Lore Petersen, and his parents, Bruno and Franziska Petersen. 

A Private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Boniface German Catholic Church on Friday June 25, 2021. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Elmar’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Elmar Petersen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.