November 14, 2021
Today we celebrate with blessed assurance, the knowledge we have that our beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Opa, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Uncle and Friend is now in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. He entered Heaven on Sunday, November 14th, 2021, the day of his 76th birthday.
Mourning him is his wife Lola, to whom he was married for 52 years; their children, Dean (Bobbi), Erica (Chris) and Wayne (Coral); grandchildren, Tye (Jeff), Mya (Jas), Kennedy (Griffin), Dayce (Levi), Halle, Ian, Levi, Jordon and Rebecca; the greatest joy of his life - his great-grandchildren, Vivienne, Roland, Sebastien and Oliver; and his three sisters, Edith (Adolph), Betty and Linda (Harry).
Harry was born in Garzau, Germany in 1945 and emigrated to Canada in 1951, settling in Lavington with his family. After schooling and a brief stint in Vancouver, he and his growing family returned to Vernon, where he operated the Union 76 Husky gas station until 1982. He then ran an independent auto repair shop and further ventures into car rentals and the Ryder franchise followed at various times. He was known to many as "Uncle Harry",
Harry retired after 40 years in the auto business, then to become active with many hobbies and volunteering with the Eagle Bay Bible Camp, Men's Shed and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. He could be found every Sunday at the Vernon Alliance Church being an usher and the giver of warm and inviting hugs to everyone. Harry enjoyed fishing (including much petting of the boat), coffee with the cronies, "supervising" his sons with any project on tap, wood working projects for his grandkids and great-grandkids, watching Wheel of Fortune and playing card games with the extended family on Friday nights. The days spent in the home shop were filled with whatever current project was on the go, and planning for the next one. He was not one to let the grass grow under his feet. His smile and warm welcoming demeanor made him a special friend to many. You could count on Harry for help whenever or wherever and he would volunteer his sons, and even his son's friends at times also.
Harry has left a Dad sized hole in our lives and we will miss him greatly. We take comfort in the Promise that we will stroll with him in Heaven one day.
A Graveside Service was held at the Coldstream Cemetery on Friday, November 19th, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Will Wiens officiating. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of Harry to Sleep in Heavenly Peace at shpbeds.ca - a cause close to his heart.
Funeral arrangements were made with
Bethel Funeral Chapel Ltd.,
5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5
250-542-1187