Peter Johann Pankratz passed away peacefully on April 26, 2017 at Kelowna General Hospital at the age of 88 years. Peter was born on August 31, 1928 in Avenlea, SK to Johann and Mary Pankratz. In 1935 Peter and his family moved to the Justice area in Manitoba where he attended Norman School and enjoyed a happy childhood with siblings and friends. Peter was a member of the Justice Mennonite Brethren Church and after secondary school he attended Winkler Bible School. On October 6, 1951 he married Elsie Penner and they successfully farmed for 33 years in the Brookdale area raising four children together. Peter had a serious heart attack in 1985 which lead to selling the farm and moving to Brandon, MB. In Brandon, Peter started working full time in his building construction and carpentry business, Brookdale Builders, with Elsie and his two sons, Richard and Alvin. Peter’s heart could not keep up with the stress of running his business and after a second heart attack in 1991 he had to consider working less. When his sons moved to Australia in 1992, Peter continued more in the carpentry side of his business building cabinets and small renovations. In 1994, Peter was diagnosed with prostate cancer and after treatment, he and Elsie started to enjoy golfing with friends and working less. In 1996, Peter and Elsie retired and moved to Kelowna, BC. Peter had a work shop at his house in Kelowna and enjoyed many hours building furniture and small renovations. Peter and Elsie also enjoyed numerous trips to Australia. Peter was a member of the Kelowna Springs Country Club where he enjoyed many hours of golfing and time spent with many friends. Peter also took pride in the growing his own vegetable garden and caring for his fruit trees. Peter also took great pride in his family and enjoyed the many hours he spent with them. Peter leaves to mourn his wife of 65 years, Elsie of Kelowna, BC, Shirley Slezak (Henry) Brookdale, MB, Deborah Pritschau (Bruce) Kelowna, BC, Alvin Bundaberg, Australia. Grandchildren: Marianne (Lee) Brandon, Richard’s children: Carleigh (Chris), Daryn (Wendy), Jenna (Josh), all of Brisbane, Australia. Great grandchildren: Hope and Kaylee Brandon, MB. Also surviving are: brothers John (Agnes), Henry (Julia) and sister Justina (Gerry), sisters-in-law Agnes Loewen and Alvina Pankratz, brothers-in-law Peter Penner (Helen) and Art Penner (Liz). Peter was preceded was by his parents, Johann and Mary Pankratz, sister Lydia Miszczak, brother Arthur and son Richard. The Graveside Ceremony will take place at Rosewood Memorial Gardens on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Gerry Harms officiating. A reception will follow at Memories Chapel, 330 18th Street North. Donations in memory of Peter may be made to a charity of choice.