DR. HARRY SKINNER

DR. HARRY SKINNER
Suddenly, but gently, at Saint Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Man., Dr. James Harrison Skinner passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007.
Born to John Frederick and Edna Olivette Skinner on Sept. 15, 1923, Harry grew up with his three older brothers in a happy and boisterous household in Morris, Man.
After graduating from high school in the spring of 1942, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. He served as a radio operator, first on a minesweeper out of Halifax, then later on a motor torpedo boat in the English Channel in the run-up to D-Day.
After officer training in Canada, Harry was demobilized in 1945 as a sub-lieutenant.
Harry took up studies at the University of Manitoba after the war, graduating as a physician in 1953. During this time, he was introduced to Geraldine May Gilmore of Winnipeg. They were wed on Aug. 6, 1949.
In 1953, the young couple and first son, David, settled in Fort Frances, Ont., drawn by the lake and the outdoors. A general practitioner of the old school, Harry was a respected and popular doctor who performed surgeries and anaesthetics in addition to family practice.
His favourite part of the job undoubtedly was helping mothers to bring their babies into this world. In his last week of work in 1985, young mothers he had delivered, with their children whom he also had delivered, made a point of dropping in for check-ups.
In addition to raising three sons, Harry and Geraldine were both active in the community. Harry was a founding member and later president of the Fort Frances Medical Clinic, and a founding member and later president and Paul Harris fellow of the Rotary Club of Fort Frances.
He fished, hunted, golfed, and curled with enthusiasm, and served as medical officer to the Fort Frances Sea Cadets corps for many years.
In retirement, Geraldine and Harry continued to enjoy their avocations and entertaining family and friends at their homes at Fort Frances, Hostess Island, and Mesa, Ariz.
Harry Skinner was predeceased by his parents; and brothers, Reeve, Fred, and Don.
He leaves to mourn, Geraldine, his wife of 57 years; sons, David, Robert, and Steven; daughter-in-law, Allison; granddaughter, Mackenzie; nieces, Lynne and Carol and nephews, Ken, Jim, George, and Douglas, and their families; as well as countless friends, young and old.
Harry was a practical, down-to-earth man of action and wit who gave his best, whether as doctor or friend. He will be sorely missed by all those whose lives he touched and who, in turn, brought him much enjoyment.
Cremation has taken place.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Fr. Wayne McIntosh and Rev. Barbara Murray officiating.
A reception followed the service. A private interment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family may wish to make donations in Harry’s memory to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, 110 Victoria Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 2B7 or to the National Office of Ducks Unlimited, Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre, Box 1160, Stonewall, Man. R0C 2Z0, or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be left at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com