Pete Kuiken was born on June 16, 1947, to Dirk and Tina Kuiken in Leeuwarden, Friesland, Holland. In February 1952, the family, which included Pete's siblings Ryan and Hinka, emigrated to Canada and settled in the Trochu area. Pete began school there in the fall of 1953.

In the spring of 1955, the family moved to the Three Hills area, where Pete continued his education. In 1958, they relocated again to Linden, where Pete completed his schooling. He later attended the University of Calgary, earning a degree in education, and began his teaching career in Torrington. Over the years, Pete also taught in Linden and Acme, where his students enjoyed his great sense of humor and his hilarious puns.

After leaving teaching, Pete worked for Bill and Betty Kilgour on their farm, developing a long-lasting friendship with them. He later began building steel grain bins for the Linden Co-op and UFA in Trochu. The remainder of his career was spent working at OK Tire in Linden.

Pete spent many winters in Arizona, where he made new friends and enjoyed attending horse races in Phoenix. He loved animals and took great joy in caring for other people's pets. In his retirement, Pete found pleasure in reading, taking walks, solving Sudoku puzzles, and doing jigsaw puzzles with friends at Lynn Haven.

Pete passed away peacefully at Lynn Haven on Sunday, December 29, 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He will be deeply missed.

An open house to celebrate Pete's life will be held on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the Care and Share in Linden, starting at 2:00 p.m. Please join us as we honor and remember him.