We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer Peter John “Stan” Kurdziel, CD (Ret’d), peacefully, on 22 June 2017 in Ottawa, ON at age 92. He served his country in the Royal Canadian Engineers for 26 years and was the grandfather of Combat Engineer Sgt Dale Kurdziel, MB, who was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his actions in Afghanistan in 2010.
Stan was born in Pine River, MB and attended Portage la Prairie High School before joining the Army and enrolling in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1947. After completing his Basic Sapper training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Camp Chilliwack BC, Stan was transferred to Royal Canadian Air Force Station Rivers, MB with the Canadian Special Air Service Company, a Canadian Airborne Special Forces that was in operation between 1947 and 1949. In 1950 he was transferred to the Canadian Joint Air Training Center in Rivers as a Parachutist Instructor, Packer, and Rigger. While at Rivers, in 1951 he qualified as a Pilot for the Heavy Transport Glider.
Still remaining Airborne, Stan was transferred to 1 Airborne Troop, RCE in Edmonton, AB in 1953 as Chief Clerk. He was then posted to Germany where he served for two unit rotations (1957-60) as Chief Clerk with 4 Field Squadron and 2 Field Squadron.
Stan returned to Canada in 1960 and worked in the Postings and Career office in Army Headquarters. After a six-year tour there he was moved to 26 Works Company in Ottawa for a year as their Chief Administration and Finance Clerk. Promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 1967, he then returned to Headquarters as the Administrative Clerk with the Directorate of Construction Engineering Management and Plans. In 1970 Stan moved to the Secretariat with Director General Works for a year before being transferred to his final position in the Engineer Equipment Co-ordination section of the Directorate of Military Engineering (1971-73).
Stan retired in 1973. He had been taking Professional Development courses since 1965 and had accumulated an impressive portfolio of diplomas in Accounting, Production, and Administration from Algonquin College, Loyalist College and University of Guelph. He joined the Public Service at Public Archives and National Library in 1975 and followed a Second Career as a Financial Internal Auditor and a Systems and Procedures Project Officer.
Stan was a Member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, and the Financial Management Institute. He was a passionate volunteer in his community.
A celebration of Stan’s life will be held on Saturday, July 15, at 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, 382 Centrepointe Dr, Ottawa. In his memory, donations can be made to Bethany Baptist Church or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences can be sent via the Funeral Home.
