HAROLD ELMER PETERSON

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of their beloved father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Harold Peterson, into the hands of God on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances, Ont.
Harold was born in 1918 in Saskatchewan and then moved with his family at the age of 16 to his homestead in Blackhawk, Ont. He later moved to British Columbia, where he met, Esther, whom he then married in Saskatchewan.
They spent the first years of their marriage living in Whitehorse, Yukon, where Harold worked for the army hauling supplies on the Alaska Highway. They then moved to Fort Frances, where they lived the rest of their lives.
Harold hauled pulpwood for a few years before joining the O&M Pulp and Paper Company, where he worked for 37 years. On May 17, 1993, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Harold enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, and loved to hunt, fish, and camp. He also took great pride in planting a garden every year with the help of his wife, Esther.
He also loved to repair his cars and trucks, and was a general all-around handyman who could be seen giving a helping hand to anyone who asked.
Left to cherish his memory are his three daughters, Evelyn Hicks and Darlene (Paul) Begin, all of Fort Frances, Ont., and Kathy Von Niebelschutz of Winnipeg, Man.
Also left to mourn his passing are seven grandchildren, Barbara-Ann (Devin) Eldridge, Duane Hicks, Kevin (Dana) Begin, Daryl, (Shanda) Begin, Jennifer (Gerald) Duffy, Simone Laser, and Sabine Laser; and seven great-grandchildren, McKenna, Matthew, Jesse, Kenzie, Avery, Amanda, and Olivia.
Also surviving are one sister, Florence Schlattman of Illinois; his step-mother, Sadie Look, of Nakusp, B.C; two half-sisters, Winnifred Peterson of Whitehorse, Yukon and Dorothy Curtis-Baley of Jamaica, West Indies; half-brother, Elmer Peterson of Lone Butte, B.C.; sister-in-law, Viola Strand of Fort Frances, Ont. and her family, Greg and Diane Jewell, Christopher and Kelly Woods, and Jim and Melody Woods; nephew, Arnold Peterson of Dryden, Ont.; as well as other nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, the former Esther Louise Strand, on Oct. 17, 1993. He also was predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Elsie Peterson; two brothers, Ronald and Ray Peterson; one sister, Viola Larson; and son-in-law, Gary Hicks.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Intern Roland Schoepf officiating.
Interment took place in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 11 a.m.
The pallbearers were Duane Hicks, Devin Eldridge, Gerald Duffy, Kevin Begin, Daryl Begin, and Chris Woods. Honourary pallbearers were Ken Gosselin, Ilio Gushulak, Bob Gadd, and Enrico Perin.
He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, 110 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B7.