Wesley "Wes" Peters, 83, of Andover, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023. Wes was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on September 7, 1940, to the late William and Adila Peters.

Wes moved 16 times in the first 19 years of his life.  He attended many different mostly multi-grade classrooms through grade nine and then graduated from Canadian High School. As a young man he enjoyed building log cabins, playing hockey and riding anything with four legs.  For college Wes moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Grace Bible Institute. While attending Grace he met Barbara "Barb" Lucille Hibma.  They were married on June 29,1962. Wes and Barb moved to Germany in 1965 where they served together as missionaries until 2000. During this time they planted churches in Blieskastel, Saarlouis, Koblenz and Trier. During a 9 year period back in  Minnesota, Wes and Barb opened The Pines, a retreat center, and hosted many individuals and small groups. Beginning in 2001, having resettled in Minnesota, Wes and Barb continued to travel to Germany regularly, mentoring and encouraging young German pastors, especially in East Germany and in Berlin.

In his own words Wes described himself as someone who liked to make things and fix and restore things.  "I enjoyed being with people and meeting new people especially in foreign countries like Yugoslavia, Egypt, Israel, Turkey and Morocco.  I liked to think my talents given from God were in 'designing and developing'. That's why starting churches and retreat centers seemed like God's calling."

Even while courageously battling Parkinson's Disease for many years at the end of his life, Wes did not stop prioritizing people, keeping in touch with friends and those he was mentoring via email and Zoom calls as well as making new friends in his neighborhood and favorite coffee shop.  His passion was that others would know the good news of the gospel of Jesus.

Above all, Wes was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He and Barb celebrated 60 years of marriage in June of 2022, just a few short months before Barb suddenly passed away.  Together they were blessed with five children, 20 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara; their son, Ivan; and grandson, Jeremy.

He is survived by his daughters, Denise (James) Scott, Janet (Eric) Crane, Heidi (Eric Berg) Ames-Berg, and Andrea (Chris) Price; grandchildren, Stephanie, Andreas, Jasmine, Christopher, Micah, Emily, Nicolas, Nicole, Marie, Michelle, Nadia, Caitlin, Coye, Farrah, Kendra, Sierra, Ember, Levi and Lilly; and great-grandchildren, Dieter, Ruby, Imogen, Otto, Fred, Sofia, Hal, Joanna, Elliot, Hazel and Ryland.

A Memorial Service to celebrate Wes' life will be held at Constance Free Church on Tuesday, December 19 at 10:00. There will be an hour of visitation beginning at 9:00.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Park River Estates in Coon Rapids.  https://www.parkriverestatescarecenter.com/