HERAUF, Peter

HERAUF October 30, 1928 – April 5, 2024 PETER PAUL HERAUF, our beloved Dad, passed away suddenly, but very peacefully on Friday, April 5, 2024. Dad was born in Kronau, Saskatchewan to Simon and Caroline Herauf. He was the second oldest of 14 children. Dad grew up in the farming colony of St. Peter’s, where he attended school in the one room school house until grade 12. He finished his high school at Campion College in Regina. It was there that one of the priests encouraged Dad to study accounting because of Dad’s love for math. Dad didn’t really know what accounting was, but it turned out that he loved it and was very good at it. He achieved the highest provincial mark in accounting when he wrote his Chartered Accountant exams.
With his education and exams completed, Dad decided to take on a new adventure by moving to Camrose, Alberta, where he would manage a branch of the CA firm he articled with. He had never been out of the province of Saskatchewan, but he bought himself a new maroon and white 1956 Chevrolet and off he went. Dad decided that with having a good job and a new car he was ready to get married. On a beautiful evening in October, 1956, at a wedding dance in Ohaton, Alberta he met Maria Schmidt. They were married on June 17, 1957. Dad moved with his new bride to Wainwright, AB where they welcomed seven children in nine years: Sharon (Bryan), Paul, Dan (Claire), Mike (Sharla), Kathy, Joe (Judy), Mark (Nicky).
During his years in Wainwright, Dad worked long hours developing a thriving accounting practice which supported his family. He was well known and respected for his honesty and fairness by his many clients from the towns and farms all around the area. In spite of his long hours, Dad went to mass every day, a practice he continued until he was unable to drive himself to the church. Then he started watching the daily mass on TV. This he continued to do right up to his last day at home. His faith was a cornerstone to him, from the time he was an altar boy serving mass at St. Peter’s to his last breath listening to hymns. It was part of the reason Dad decided to move his family to Lethbridge in 1974. Wainwright did not have a Catholic high school and Dad wanted our catholic education to continue. He sold the bulk of his accounting practice and moved us to Lethbridge where all of us graduated from Catholic Central High School. Prayer was a huge part of Dad’s life. We always prayed as a family. All his life, Dad was saying a rosary for someone who needed prayers. He carried a rosary in his pocket at all time. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for many decades. Dad continued to work as an accountant with new clients from the Lethbridge area and old clients from the Wainwright area until his retirement. After that, he continued to do his own record keeping and income tax filings until his death. His accounting entries had been recorded in his ledger to the day he went into the hospital and his tax return was ready to be filed.
Dad’s rural upbringing never left him. He loved to have a garden where he could grow his favorite food: potato. He loved to work in his yard which was always meticulously maintained. As his mobility became more of a challenge and he was unable to do the work outside, he would supervise whoever was doing it.
Dad loved “old time” music as he called it. He loved to dance but claimed Mom was the better dancer. He had music playing in his office at his house all the time.
Dad loved sports. He played baseball as a young man with some of his brothers, with their dad as coach. He continued to play even after he was married and had children. He also played hockey until 1980 with the Knights of Columbus Old Timers. He followed the Toronto Blue Jays, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs, being a true fan always full of hope for “next” year. Dad always had time for us except if there was a game on. Then the conversation might end quite abruptly. Like most people born in Saskatchewan, he was a Roughriders’ fan, and in true Roughrider tradition, he raised us to be Roughriders’ fans too. He was an avid crib player and all of us have been subjected to a skunking by Dad at one time or another.
Mom and Dad were blessed with seventeen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Like their parents and grandparents, they dearly loved their Opa and Gopa. (Great Opa) and will miss him terribly.
As children, Dad was always there with love, encouragement, wisdom and faith. He worked hard to give us a good life and always led by example. Since Mom’s passing in April 2014, he has been the rock for all of us. Even when he was having pain, which he usually described as a tickle, there was never a complaint. He always had time to talk (unless the game was about to start) and pick you up when you were feeling down. He was independent, not wanting to bother anyone, but at the same time, always willing to help anyone. He was loved by so many people. Dad is survived by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as several siblings and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Maria, his parents and several siblings.
We know that Dad is rejoicing being reunited with Mom and we are so happy for him, but we are so sad for us because the world is not as nice a place without Dad. We will miss him every minute of every day. Give Mom a hug for us Dad. We love you both.
A Viewing will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 6:00 P.M., with a Prayer Service to follow at 7:00 P.M. with Sharon Hagel officiating.
A Funeral Mass will be held at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:30 A.M. with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating. The Prayer Service and Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Peter’s obituary on the Cornerstone website at their respective times.
Following the Funeral Mass, Peter will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Maria, in Mountain View Cemetery.
If friends would like to do so, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an Alberta charity of their choice.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com