Peter Edward Nieuwsma, 99, of Strasburg, ND, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 23, 2011 at the Strasburg Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am, Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at the Strasburg Reformed Church with the Reverend Floyd Haan officiating. Burial will be in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Strasburg. Visitation will be held on Monday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm at Myers Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:30pm. Peter was born on November 30, 1912 on a farm southeast of Hull, ND, on land homesteaded by his father. Peter was the son of Ed H. and Adrianne "Jenny" (Van Soest) Nieuwsma. He was the fifth of eleven children. When he was two years old, the family moved to the "Home Sweet Home Farm" southeast of Strasburg, which had been homesteaded by his grandfather, Maurits Van Soest. He attended and graduated from a one room rural school a half mile east of the farm. Following graduation, he worked with his father and brothers on the farm, but also took a number of correspondence courses from NDSU and a cartooning course. Peter was a talented sketch artist and cartoonist. Peter was also an avid reader and student of the Bible, American history and modern farming practices. In addition to farming with his father and brothers, during the "dirty thirties" Peter worked for farmers in the Red River Valley and Iowa, but always returned to the "Home Sweet Home Farm". Peter married Johanna Nicolay on November 16, 1945 at the Hull Christian Reformed Church. They initially farmed the "Home Sweet Home Farm" with his brother Ralph, but eventually Peter and Ralph had their own farms with Peter and Johanna taking over the "Home Sweet Home Farm". Peter was a progressive farmer and implemented many conservation practices bringing the land back into full production following the devastation of the 30's. Peter had a deep attachment to the land and loved to watch his crops and livestock grow. Peter and Johanna were blessed with four children: John Edward (Ed), Janet (Jan), Raymond (Ray) and Mildred (Millie). He was proud of their accomplishments and became a loving grandpa and great grandpa. Peter was active in his community and church. He served as Deacon, Elder and Sunday School teacher of the Strasburg Reformed Church, a school board member of the Harding Rural School, PTA President of the Strasburg Public School, and rural township supervisor. Following his retirement, he served as a president of the Strasburg Senior Citizens. Peter and Johanna retired and moved into Strasburg in November of 1980, but Peter continued to help his son Ray on the farm. When he could no longer actively help on the farm, he took up woodworking and carpentry. He specialized in making toys for his grandchildren. When he could no longer do carpentry work, he took up crocheting and made numerous afghans for friends and grandchildren. An afghan from Uncle Peter/Grandpa was a standard graduation and/or baby present. Peter and Johanna also enjoyed traveling during their retirement. They made a number of trips to Iowa, California, Virginia and made two trips to Europe to visit Germany, Italy, France and Holland. A highlight of their European travels was getting acquainted with Nieuwsma cousins in Holland. Peter leaves behind his loving wife Johanna, Strasburg, ND; Children: Ed (Anne), Strasburg, ND, Janet (Russell) Melby, Ames, IA, Ray (Christine), Strasburg, ND; and Millie (Francis) Buekea, Portland, OR; twelve grandchildren: Kristin (Kieran) Murray, Rachel (Yaya) Hamidou, Brian (Shannon) Nieuwsma, Peter Buekea, Jill (Benjamin) Scheirer, David (Christie) Melby-Gibbons, Derek Nieuwsma, Sarah (Roy) Brooks, Kiara (Dayne) Siex, Christina Nieuwsma, Nicholas Edward Buekea and Darin Nieuwsma and seven great grandchildren: Sankara Hamidou, Niema Brooks, Aaron Scheirer, Zachery Brooks, Zoe Brooks, Annelie Scheirer, and Bryce Nieuwsma; sister-in-law, Angie Nieuwsma, Escondido, CA, three brothers: Clarence (Marianne) Nieuwsma, San Jose, CA, Donald (Dorothy) Nieuwsma, Green Valley, AZ and Ralph (Eleanor) Nieuwsma, Strasburg, ND; two sisters: Augusta (Arvin) Roos, Strasburg, ND and Irene Wester, The Dalles, OR; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: Annie Ver Hoven and Nettie Heitbrink; three brothers: Hidde Nieuwsma, John Nieuwsma and Maurice Nieuwsma. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to be given to the Strasburg Reformed Church and the American Leprosy Mission through the Strasburg Reformed Church.