Peacefully, at Riverwood Senior Living, Alliston, on Wednesday, October 3, 2018, Peter John Elms, in his 91st year, beloved husband of the late Madeline Maidwell Puzey. Loving father of Robert (Denise), and Catherine (Robert). Proud grandfather of Jonathan (Tiffany), Laura (Luke), Sarah (Kristjan), Jessica, and Alexandria. Great-grandfather of Emily, Lukas, and Arya.
Born in London, England, Peter emigrated to Canada in 1946. He met Madeline in Fort Frances and they married in 1953. A bricklayer by trade he followed his passion for weather and worked in the weather office at Malton Airport until he retired at the age of 54. He was an amateur stonemason, photographer, local historian, birdwatcher, collector of minerals and fossils, and hundreds of books.
The family will receive their friends for a memorial visitation at the Egan Funeral Home, 203 Queen Street S. (Hwy. 50), Bolton (905-857-2213) on Thursday, October 18 from 12 o’clock until 3 o’clock.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to Headwaters Health Care Foundation, 100 Rolling Hills Drive, Orangeville L9W 4X9 (www.hhcfoundation.com).
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Anne McKinnon
Paul and I are sending our deepest sympathy to you Bob and to your family.
Paul and Anne (Donaldson) McKinnon
Liz Day
Geoff and I have lived round the corner from Peter for 44 years. What wonderful friends and neighbours Peter and Madeline were, and when our son was born they became surrogate grandparents as we didn’t have any family here in Canada.
Our sincere condolences go out to Peter’s family. It has been a long journey for Peter and for all of you. He will be missed, but we are happy to know that his memory will live on in the house that Peter built.
Liz and Geoff Day, and Paul and family
Michael Newark
My sincere condolences to you Cathy and Bob and families. Working with Peter was always an enlivening experience. He was always full of stories, had a healthy disrespect for authority and an earthy sense of humour. I admired his enthusiasm for local history and his self-taught, in-depth knowledge of geology. We shared an interest in locating and collecting reference works and also in photography. He and his wife Madeline were a tremendous help to me in searching, on their own time, dusty archives for newspapers and articles referencing tornado occurrences.
Peter had an abiding interest in the weather. Not only was his job weather observing, but he recorded his daily home observations in his voluminous diaries that spanned decades. We were very good friends and I am sorry that he is gone. However, wherever he is now he will be giving someone in authority a hard time.
Michael Newark
Diane Allengame
Peter was keenly interested in the history of Caledon East and area at a time when heritage wasn’t so much on people’s radar. As a result, he was able to amass photographs, notes and interviews creating a wonderful collection — now an enduring legacy for the people of this area. Deepest sympathies to Cathy and Bob and their families. Thank you, Peter — hope you are meeting up in heaven with people from the past and sharing stories.
Yvette A.
To the family of Mr. Peter John Elms, I express my deep sympathies and sincere condolences. To lose a loved one to the “enemy” death is a horrible tragedy within itself, and unfortunately, it also leaves behind a very horrible ”sting” that’s felt by family and friends. So may all of you be comforted by your many cherished and fond memories, and please draw added comfort and hope from God’s future promises: “From the power of the Grave I will redeem them; From death I will recover them. Where are your stings, O Death? Where is your destructiveness, O Grave?” (Hosea 13:14); Jesus said that “all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life.” (John 5:28, 29); Jesus said to her [Martha]: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life.” (John 11:25); “And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing.” -1Corinthians 15:26
Michelle Niro
To the family of Mr. Elms,
I am so sorry for your loss. Both, Mr. and Mrs. Elms were such a treasured part of the Caledon East community. I worked with Mrs. Elms at the IGA garden centre and Mr. Elms would give daily weather updates to my dad, Nick, so we could cover the plants and prepare for the upcoming weather. They were both lovely people who really invested in their community and it’s history. I am so sorry for your loss .
Michelle Niro
Bryan Smith
I worked with Peter at Pearson Airport from 1976 to mid 1980’s. We formed an instant friendship and carpooled from my house in Bramalea and later near Sandhill (Caledon)for several years. During a strong winter storm in 1976 Peter drove me home through the many drifts on Airport Rd and stayed at our house until the storm subsided. Peter and I shared a love of Monty Python, weather, birds and of course the history of Tar Box Corners ( early name for Cal E). Peter used to phone me regularly to compare his weather records with mine as the Env Canada weather volunteer for Caledon. Last time I saw him was at Madelaine’s funeral. Over the years we drifted apart esp after our move to Orangeville. In August I was in Cal East and knocked on the door of the house where you all used to live. There was no answer and no one could tell me where he was.
I am sorry I did not find out about his passing. He was a good friend and an inspiration to me as an young weatherman.
My sincere condolences.
Bryan Smith