Obituary of Peter Tschaja

Peter Tschaja was born October 18, 1948 in Furstenberg, Germany to Bernhard and Anna Tschaja, and passed away at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital on June 24, 2025 at the age of 76 years.

At the age of three he came with his parents by ship to Montreal, and then by train across Canada to Viking, Alberta. He grew up on a farm bordering Forestburg to the east. Peter and Simone married in 1971 and raised two wonderful children, Lori and Murray.

Throughout his life, Peter worked many jobs. Whether it was operating heavy equipment on construction sites or the oilfield, he was always instrumental to getting the job done. Running a dozer in the far north, at the controls of a hoe digging a pipeline trench, or grading roads were all things he did with precision and ease. He finished his last 25 working years as the Village of Forestburg foreman. Highlights of his career were working on an oil rig on Ellesmere Island in the Arctic which was a 3 hour flight beyond Yellowknife, and the many wonderful years working for the Village where he even got nicknamed by some of the local children as the King of Forestburg.

Over the years, Peter enjoyed spending time with his many friends and family doing activities like golfing, bowling, curling, traveling, wine making and yearly sausage making. These pursuits were only surpassed by his love of an intense game of Solitaire, and entertaining people in the cellar or at the cabin, that they purchased in 1996. Peter remained active in the town until the last few years of his life. He was one of the founders of Communities in Bloom and enjoyed yearly plantings to enhance the beauty of the town. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, and enjoyed helping others around town whenever possible.

Peter is survived by his loving wife Simone, his two children, Murray (Stephanie Lunty), Lori Bruketa (Thomas); two sisters, Mary Pettersen and Jean Tschaja; brother Ed (Rita) Tschaja; three grandchildren, Sean, Grace, Josh Bruketa, step-grandchilren Kurtis and Shawn Lunty.

Peter was predeceased by his parents, Bernhard and Anna; two siblings Wittold and Hedwig; and brothers in law Elmer Pettersen and Jim Barrett.

A Memorial Mass will be held  on Thursday July 3, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Heisler, AB. Please join with the family for a time of fellowship and refreshments immediately following the service at Heisler Community Hall. Interment will take place at Forestburg Public Cemetery following the Hall luncheon.

Memorial donations in memory of Peter may be made to the Forestburg and District Community Enhancement Fund; Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories; or the Charity of Donor's Choice.