Harry PetersA prominent Steinbach businessman has passed away. Harry Peters died Tuesday at the age of 78. He was a car dealer in Steinbach, a residential developer in Mitchell and also co-owned the Brookdale Mall and the Plett Building along Main Street. His wife Kathy recalls how Harry got started in the car business in 1966, shortly after they got married.

"My cousin phoned me one day and said, they need a car salesman at Penner Dodge, Harry should apply for that. So he did and he got accepted. And, the very first month, he sold an older car where they often put a very high bonus on it. He managed to sell that car and he was very excited about car sales now. And the same thing happened the second month. After that he was sold on selling cars."

She adds he eventually opened his own used car business before opening an American Motors/Jeep dealership and later, a Mazda dealership that he ran until 1987 before selling it.

Son, Todd Peters says his dad set some very good examples for his family.

"My dad always had a very strong work ethic and I think many family members looked to that and that's encouraged them to develop a work ethic as well. But he was also very hands on. As a developer, people who live in the development in Mitchell, have many memories of my dad being on his tractor and working on the land. You don't see that too often that developers are actually developing it with their hands themselves. With his investments, he was tied into them more than just financially."

Kathy says her husband was also very involved in the community participating in organizations like the Kinsmen and the Lions Club. Todd says his dad also played a big role in some Steinbach icons like the big red car along HIghway #12.

"Our big Rolls Royce car was a brainchild of his, the 'It's Worth The Trip' slogan was a brainchild of his and the redevelopment of Main Street with all the unistone and all the trees and stuff like that was one of the visions he had as well. I think that took place quite a bit afterwards but these are some of things that I think, as a community member, he wasn't just about being in business and being profitable, it was also about being a contributor to what we see in Steinbach."

Peters was also an avid golfer and supporter of the Steinbach Fly-in Golf Club.

The funeral service for Harry Peters will take place next Wednesday at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church at 1:30 p.m.