Peter Bueckert -— Mayor

In 1902 at the age of eighteen. Mr. Peter Bueckert who was born in Alexanderthal, South Russia on December 25, 1883, came to Canada with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. John Bueckert. The first summer here he was employed on Abram Kroeker’s farm just west of Winkler. After taking high school at Winkler and Greta no. he started teaching in the Bloomfield School District. On December 26. 1905, he was married to Maria Dyck, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. lsaac Dyck, who was also a school teacher. Both Mr. & Mrs. Bueckert taught school at Lowe Farm for a few years. As the School Board was anxious to retain Mrs. Bueckert on the staff at Lowe Farm but refused to rehire Mr. Bueckert, they moved with their family to the Greenfarm S. D. where Mr. Bueckert continued to tedch until l9l6. After five years of public school teaching, he began the lumber business

at Winklcr. To start off, he ordered one carload of.

lumber and after its contents were sold he had earned enough money to order two carloads. in 1918, Mr. Bueckert purchased the Beaver Lumber Yard at 361 Main Street and changed the name to Winkler Lumber Company. After his death on August 31, 1946, three of his sons, John, Peter, and Bill continued in the Lumber Yard until 1958 when the business was sold to the Beaver Lumber Company Limited. At one time Mr. Bueckert operated lumber yards in Plum Coulee, Horndean, Altona, and Carman as well as in Winkler. Before com- ing to Winkler he had in 1910 purchased a general store in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan.

After leaving the teaching profession, Mr. Bueckert started a private lumber business and became actively in- volved in the public affairs of the community. He served as Mayor of Winkler for 17 years which is longer than any other local citizen has occupied the same civic office.

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He held the office of mayor during the years 191749; 1924—27; and 1936-45. Mr. Bueckert was also a trustee of the Winkler School Board for several terms. He took. an active part in politics and in 1927 he was the Liberal par~ ty standard—bearer in a three-cornered provincial election in Morden—Rhineland. Mr. J. H. Black of Morden was the Progressive candidate, but Dr. H. McGavin, Plum Coulee, was elected on the Conservative ticket.

On September 17, 1905, Mr. Bueckert was baptized and accepted into the membership of the Winkler M. B. Church. He participated in the church business meetings and applied some of his shrewd techniques here as well. On one occasion when an old church building debt of $6000 had become a iingering sore. Mr. Bueckert arose from his seat to address the meeting and suggested that it should not be difficult for the congregation to clear up this loan. Personally. he would pay $1000 towards li— quidation of the debt, and pointing a finger to Mr. George G. Wiebe, he said, “And you can pay $500.” Before the meeting adjourned money for payment of the loan in question had been over-subscribed. Mr. Bueckert passed away at his home in Winkler on August 31, 1946.

Mrs. Bueckert. widow of the former mayor, died April 13, 1973. Mr. & Mrs. Bueckert had a family of six children, namely, John (deceased), Peter who operates the Gondola Pizza Restaurant at 2655 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, isaac, Mary, William, and Erna.

A grandson Billy Bueckert, the son of Mr. & Mrs. William C. Bueckert, who began water skiing on Lake Minnewasta at Morden, won the Manitoba Provincial Water Ski Championship at Selkirk on August 7, 1960, and since then has won the Canadian National Junior Jumping Water Ski Championship. Not to be outdone by his brother Bob Bueckert has been winningjust as many laurels on Winnipeg‘s drag racing tracks. The two brothers now operate the B. 8:. B. Motors at 463 St. Anne’s Road, St. Vital.

George W. Neufeld — Mayor