In Memory Of

John Henry Harder

Feb 26, 1937 - Jul 14, 2024

Service

Tuesday, July 23, 2024
1:00 pm
Caroline Community Hub
5103 48 Ave.
Caroline, Alberta

Notice

Donations can be made in John’s memory to the Caroline Community Health & Wellness Centre.

Obituary

John Harder was born Feb. 26, 1937, on the family farm to Erna and Eric. He was the oldest of three boys, with Glen coming in 1938 and Richard in 1943. As most families back then, everyone was expected to help on the farm at a very young age.
John started school at Wooler, then to North Caroline school which he would harness the team and wagon to pick up the kids on the way, until everyone was bussed to Caroline. John completed grade 8 but didn’t pass, his teacher told him, “That if he returned to 9 in the fall”, but needless to say he never returned.
After school John worked in lumber camps, it was during this time that he met Margaret Pengelly in 1956 at the Caroline Big Horn Stampede. She started coming out from Red Deer to clean house for her brothers Clarence and Lawrence. I’m sure Annie and Almer wondered why Margaret wanted to clean house so often for her brothers. From the stories that have been told he wore out a lot of cars driving to see his sweetheart as the roads were all gravel from Caroline to Red Deer. When John purchased his first vehicle, while signing the purchase agreement they told him to sign his John Henry, in which he did, and they thought he was being a smart ass.
John and Margaret were married on a hot day in Red Deer June 10,1960. John was to call Margaret once he got to Red Deer, he forgot so Margaret went to the church not knowing if he would be at the front or not, we all now how it worked out. After getting married they lived in Rimbey for a short a time while John worked on the rigs. In the fall they moved to Gordon Douglas’s farm by Penhold and John worked the cattle and showed bulls. In 1961 they moved back to Caroline into a 12x22 house on the Harder family farm. This was the start of John’s lifelong passion of farming, with John and Margaret purchasing his parents half section. During these years they had four children: Susan in 1961, Danny in 1963, Ross in 1965, and Dale in 1966. As the years went on John strived to get to 100 head of cows in which he did with great pride. He also enjoyed that he got to farm the last 30 years with his son Ross and watching some of his grandchildren also taking an interest in the farming life. John enjoyed horses, having quite a few favorites over the years also passing this knowledge on to grandkids.
John enjoyed times that brought neighbors, family and friends together, such as thrashing, silaging, and branding days; where all come to get the job done, enjoy a cold beer, supper and a lot of story swapping. Anyone that has ever been part of a branding crew know that these days make lasting memories and kinship. These times especially is when John was a firm believer of teaching the younger crew the proper way of branding, roping, and even of harvesting the prairie oysters. John was the person that if he saw someone that needed help, he would be the first to lend a hand or a piece of equipment. If you called him in need he would be by your side in 5. He also believed that a handshake was as good as a contract, his word was his truth.
Farming, family, and friends were important to John, but also being part of a community. He volunteered for several committees, maybe too many to remember, but a few are Minor Hockey, Curling Club (back when they put the roof on the arena. He would drive his tractor in every day after chores to help, when he couldn’t Howard Alstott would drive the tractor.) Ag Society, Cub and Scouts, Ambulance, Elks and Ricinus Wooler Community Association. John received an Olympic 88 certificate for his unselfish contribution to the youth in the community. Over the years John started many youths in curling, with his last few years of curling he got to enjoy teaching his grandson Cameron. John met many people during his years as the supervisor of the Raven Feeders Association with most of them becoming long time friends. In 2000 John, Margaret and family received and were awarded Farm Family of the Year. John also received a 40-year certificate from Rocky Gas Coop.
I know they say that farmers never leave the farm, but Margaret was able to get John on a few trips to Arizona with Bryan and Merna Cermak, Vegas with Susan and Reg, and took many camping trips to Saskatchewan for many years with Glen/Roberta Harder, Tom /Verna Chamberlain, Clarence/Janet Veenstra. The last big holiday was when John, Margaret, and all their kids and spouses, along with Jim Wilson, and Terry /Connie all went to Alaska on a cruise, these all created great memories for John.
Another great love of his was the grandchildren and most recent his great grandchildren. John was the type of man that kids were instantly drawn to his kind personality. John was the grandpa that spent more time on the living room floor playing, even pretending he was sleeping, or just having a good chin wag.
These are just a few moments and times of John’s life as there is not enough time to talk about what John meant to all of us.
John is survived by his wife Margaret of 64 years. His children Susan and Reg; her son Travis, fiancé Cayley; their children Kashley and Stran, along with daughter Sara and his son Geoff and Louise children Lilli/Colin and Luc/Shyanne, Liam and Leia and daughter Monique/ Dallas, and children Sydney/ Sawyer.
Dan and Corrine, sons Tayler fiancé Brooke and their son Rhett and Cameron who we lost in 2016,
Ross and Brande, their family Ryan, Meagan/Jesse, their children Walker, Annesly and Baylor, Dalton/Breanna and daughter Laynee
Dale and Kathy, their children Easton, Lane, Mark and Robyn fiancé Tyler.
Brother Glen, in-laws Nina Harder and Lawrence/Joyce Pengelly, Edna Pengelly, and Dorthy Pengelly, and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by parents Eric and Erna Harder, in laws Annie and Almer Pengelly. Richard Harder, Roberta Harder, Donnie and Rose Pengelly, brother in-laws Clarence and Bobby Pengelly. Nephews Shawn Harder and Eddy Pengelly
Donations can be made in John’s memory to the Caroline Community Health & Wellness Centre.
Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements

Condolences

Ester Ouderkirk:

My heart goes out to you Margaret and your family, my sincere condolences.

Gerry Phillips and Brenda Broad:

So sad to hear of John's passing....Margaret and family you are in our thoughts at this time. Hugs to everyone.

Dawn & Donn Mason:

Sincere condolences to Margaret and the entire family on the loss of John. His presence will be missed by all those who were closest to him and he leaves a large legacy for you all....

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