HAROLD OSCAR HEIDE

Peacefully, Harold Oscar Heide passed away at his home in Tuxedo Villa at the age of 99.

Born on July 1st, 1919 in Winnipeg to Otto and Ida Heide, he was the youngest child in the family that included his brothers Nelson and Roy, and his sister Esther. The family lived on Alverstone Street and Harold graduated from Daniel McIntyre Collegiate and Success Business College. In 1941 he volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was stationed in both Toronto and Halifax during the war. He was honourably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in March of 1946.

In September 1943 he married Mima Weedon of Valour Road and remained happily married until Mima’s passing in 1993, just weeks before their 50th anniversary. Harold leaves behind three children, Roslyn (Brian), Arthur (Viv) and Harold Jr.; three grandchildren, Ashley, Dexter (Jamie) and Avery (Stephanie); and one great grandchild, Nathan.

Harold was a consummate gentleman and the best husband, father, grandfather and friend one could ever hope to have. He served his country in WWII for five long years in the prime of his life without hesitation, and then dedicated himself to providing for his young family after the war was over.

Harold worked in the passenger unit of Canadian Pacific Railway for many years, being stationed in both Winnipeg and Moose Jaw. When the railway passenger service began to decline, he used some of his contacts from the RCAF to land a job with James Richardson & Sons, a firm he worked for with pride for over 25 years. He retired in 1994 from Co-Op Atlantic after several years of service.

Harold and his wife were long-time residents on Buttonwood Bay in Windsor Park, and the children all grew up there, went to school there, and consider it home. Harold stayed in the neighbourhood for 46 years even after his wife died and his children had grown and moved away. In the later years he loved to walk the neighbourhood with his faithful golden retriever, Max, at his side.

In 2005 the family decided that Harold deserved some additional daily support and he moved into an assisted-living apartment at The Portsmouth. He enjoyed his eight years there very much and, as was his nature, was a favourite of the great staff there and made many friends. But a loss of his eyesight, and an unfortunate fall that broke his hip, made it necessary to transfer to a long-term care room at the Tuxedo Villa in 2011 where he lived for over five years until his passing.

The family would like to thank all the staff at both The Portsmouth and Tuxedo Villa for the kind and generous support Harold was given in their care. A special thanks to all the staff on Unit 3 at Tuxedo Villa who the family got to know very well over the five years he was a resident – and to whom the family trusted to care for him at the most vulnerable stage in his life.

Cremation has taken place and a private family celebration of Harold’s life will be held at a future date.