Peter Traudt: the Master of a Successful Life

Peter Traudt: the Master of a Successful Life

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

When a person speaks to Peter Traudt, his alertness beguiles the fact that he is 92.

Peter was born at Duffield, Alberta in 1927 where he grew up on a farm. Peter’s biological father passed away when he was a toddler and his mother remarried when Peter was 27 months which was when he obtained two stepsisters and they came to live on a farm in Vegreville.

His earliest memories included playing with his many cousins. Also, he recalled how his step-father needed Peter more than he needed his right arm as Peter was very mechanically inclined. He found out he could manipulate his father when he was about nine or 10 years old. One time, he told his parents he wished they had a better light; one can of cream is $10 and the lamp they needed was $9.60. “The second time, I told them they wouldn’t even miss one can of cream. They still said no but the third time, my father told my mother, ‘If you are not going to put a lamp there, quit complaining and two weeks later, there was a lamp on the table. Then my father couldn’t put it together and I was able to,” Peter admitted.

Peter said they were millionaires because every night he went to bed on a full stomach and when he got up in the morning, there was bread on the table. In his mind, that was wealth! Then he believes his step-father got ahead of everyone else because he utilized the workforce he had in his Dad, mother, two sisters, and himself by making them do the work they were good at.

Peter enjoyed school because he had plenty of friends and always received good grades. His favorite subject was social studies.

Peter’s determined attitude continued. “I made up my mind early; someday I am going to take over the farm because my father was 41 years my senior. When I grew up I wasn’t going to drive horses, I was going to drive a tractor and a top-lined car and I did this when I was 16.

Peter met his wife when two girls came over from Romania to do work around the area where Peter lived. The first time he saw my wife-to-be it was in church and they were both looking at each other. Peter said he thought she was a beautiful lady and seem nice. At that time, everyone gathered around her to welcome her to Canada. But eventually, on the fourth Sunday, she was standing alone for a while and when Peter introduced himself; his wife-to-be said she already knew him.

Peter said his wife was from Romania but she was of German descent. He was impressed by his wife because Canadian girls are brought up in an influential society where they had everything whereas European girls think a man is wealthy if they have a tractor and a car to drive.

It is easy to impress them and they are happy with little things.

Peter and his wife had a wonderful marriage; they got along very well. “I could look anyone in the eye and tell them we never had a heated argument. We had a difference of opinion but when it went too far, I told her, ‘let’s talk about the idea and think it over, and not argue about it.’”

They enjoyed traveling together and had a lot of fun in their marriage.

They had five children; two boys and three girls. Parenthood was good for them. However, later one of their sons passed away and one of their daughters has to be in an assisted living facility as she has multiple sclerosis. Peter’s wife has since passed on. Today, Peter has 12 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren which he thinks the world of and says they are one of the brightest spots of his life.

Peter used to belong to Vegreville Flying Club and he volunteered for other organizations where he accomplished quite a bit because he believes he always thought differently than other people.

Peter resides at Vegreville Manor today. He said his life couldn’t be better now. “I’m healthy. I can walk, exercise, play the games, and participate in the activities they have at Vegreville Manor. Sure, I have aches and pains but I do what I can to feel better.”

The advice Peter would give others is to think positive; look ahead, the past is past, don’t worry about it. Things are going to be tough but there is always a way you can overcome this as the mind is a very powerful thing. Take a chance. God hates a lazy man.