Bernhard Edmund Peters, PhDJuly 19, 1934 - October 21, 2016MontereyBernhard Edmund Peters passed away on Friday, October 21st at Community Hospital (CHOMP) after a long illness. His wife of over 50 years, Ingrid Peters, was at his side.Bernhard was born on July 19, 1934 in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada the last of six children, to Jacob and Ana Peters, Mennonite immigrants to Canada. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelors degree in Russian and German and was a Fulbright Scholar for his PhD in Linguistics at the Philipps University Marburg in Germany. Always having had a passion for cars, Bernhard purchased a Mercedes while a doctoral student, and thus was in line to give blood for cash when he met his future wife, Ingrid. Bernhard accepted a job as a Professor of Linguistics at the small Mennonite college in Bluffton, Ohio and the two were married on January 4, 1965. Bernhard and Ingrid had four children over the next six years with daughter Chrissie arriving first. After his professional move to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, son Dirk, daughter Barbara, and son Kai arrived.In 1977 the family moved to Monterey, California and for two years, Bernhard continued to work at UWM until he could join his family in 1979. He worked as a French and Latin teacher at All Saints' Day School for one year and then joined the Defense Language Institute as a German instructor until his retirement.The epitome of a life-long learner and teacher, Bernhard did not stop once retiring. In addition to teaching German in night courses at CSUMB, he went back to becoming a student participating in various automotive and computer courses over the last 20 years and found a special joy in tutoring young students in Spanish at the International School of Monterey. He also enjoyed staying connected with his loving family in the United States and Canada. Bernhard was a devoted member of the Church of the Oaks, at times singing in its choir.Bernhard is survived by his loving wife of fifty-one years Ingrid Peters, daughters Chrissie Sorenson (Darin) and Barbara Peters, sons Dirk Peters (Heather) and Kai Peters (Renee), eight grandchildren Conor & Nicolette Jahn, Jared & Jordan Peters, Teddy Peters Sivley, Carsten & Lukas Peters and Dirk Sorenson. The family would like to thank Dr. Jerry Rubin for his exceptional compassion and care of Bernhard over the past four years.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International School of Monterey, whose mission statement particularly resonated with Bernhard. ISM: 1720 Yosemite Street, Seaside, CA 93955 with "in memory of Bernhard Peters" in the memo line.Bernhard was a kind, patient, intelligent, well-read, friendly, and compassionate man with a huge, giving heart. His blue twinkling eyes and love of laughter will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 30th at 2 pm at the Church of the Oaks, 841 Rosita Road in Del Rey Oaks with a reception directly following. View the online memorial for Bernhard Edmund Peters, PhD