HARVEST AUGUST HALVORSON

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HARVEST AUGUST HALVORSON It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Harvest Halvorson at Health Sciences on Thursday, October 27, 2005. His parents, Harold and Hazel Halvorson and his sister Anna Wilson predeceased him. Remaining to cherish his memory are his brothers, Herwin, Harold, Henry and his daughter Kristina Halvorson, his sister Jane and her husband Daniel Talnicoff. Harvest was a man of great integrity. He was a very sensitive, caring person whom, when counting his many blessings, valued most the priceless things of life such as family, friends and health. It was very important to him to remember everyone's name. Harvest was blessed with a fine mind, a gentle heart and a great wit. He will be fondly remembered and missed by many people. Harvest was born on August 26, 1934 in Winnipeg. He graduated with a bachelor's and a master's degree in Science from the University of Manitoba and with his doctorate degree from McGill University. Harvest began his career at the University of Manitoba. He was a pioneer in the promotion of the power of microbiology as an emerging discipline. As major promoter both locally and nationally, of the Society of Microbiology, he served on numerous committees including being a Senior Editor of the Canadian Society of Microbiology for many years. His fondest joy was to see his students advance in their career in the fields of medicine, dentistry, nursing and biotechnology. He was rewarded for his dedication from his students by being honoured with the Dr. and Mrs. H.H. Saunderson award for Excellence in Teaching in 1975. Harvest was regarded by his students for his personal warmth, sincere interest, his willingness and generosity of his time to help any student even those who were not in his classes. Students appreciated Harvest because he taught them to think for themselves rather than just giving them an answer. Although he had many opportunities to teach elsewhere Harvest chose to remain at the University of Manitoba where he taught Microbiology. He retired in 1997 after 36 years of continuous service. Harvest's love of learning continued after his retirement. He appreciated the Italian culture and enrolled in several Italian language classes at the University of Manitoba. He wanted total immersion in the language and to this end he studied for four months in Rome at an Italian language school. Harvest's footsteps carried him from one coast of Canada to the other, throughout the United States, numerous countries in Europe and Russia. He lived one year in Oslo, Norway; one year and two summers in Malmo, Sweden; one year in London, England and six months in New York. He found great pleasure in being able to see his favourite opera La Boheme sung in many famous opera houses. He particularly enjoyed browsing through the art galleries or wandering around the countryside soaking up the culture of every country he visited. A longtime member of Charleswood United Church, Harvest was involved in, and supported, many church activities. As church was a very important part of Harvest's life he felt privileged to have had the opportunity to sponsor the West Christmas Stained Glass Window. While on a tour of Israel with his church family, he found it a very moving and emotional experience to be re-baptized in the River Jordan. Harvest was very proud of his Scandinavian heritage and participated in many activities at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre. He particularly liked making Lefse for the traditional Lutefisk Dinner. Harvest also liked to bake bread and every fall his family appreciated his canning of peaches, pears, plums, pickles and relish. Harvest was a very convivial person who liked to entertain. He belonged to several social groups. He found great fun in winning the certificate of the No. 1 membership of the Charleswood Senior Centre where he enjoyed classes in stained glass and computers. Harvest preferred to participate rather than to watch sports. He was a longtime member of the Winnipeg Canoe Club, the Winnipeg Badminton Club and the Winnipeg Ski Club. He completed two marathons but an ankle injury prevented him from continuing in this sport so he had to be content with swimming. Harvest had a keen sense of social justice and was an active member of both the Reform Party and lately the Conservative Party of Canada. Harvest's family extends a very special thank you to Dr. Garry Schroeder and his staff at CancerCare for their empathy and expertise during his illness. Harvest had great respect for Dr. Schroeder and expressed many times that he was a doctor who really listened to his patients. The family also wishes to express our thanks to Orit Reuter, his social worker, with whom Harvest had a very special rapport and to his home care nurse Lise Sylvestre. In addition the family thanks the staff at Grace General Hospital where Harvest had a short stay and the staff at the Health Sciences Centre, GH3, for their care and kindness during his last lengthy stay. He felt he had excellent care. The family also extends a very special thank you to Trevor Sewell, Alene Anderson, Una Johnstone, John Driedger, Steven Fletcher, M.P. and family and friends for their continuous help and support during Harvest's final illness. A private family funeral was held on Tuesday, November 1 at 1:00 p.m. We were blessed to have Rev. Michael Wilson officiating, providing great comfort and instilling inner peace, and to Nancy Nowasad for providing us with beautiful music. Flowers are gratefully declined. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Harvest's memory to the Dr. Harvest Halvorson Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation, CancerCare, the Scandinavian Cultural Centre or to a charity of one's choice. Memories live forever and we will always be connected by love. Rest in Peace dear loving brother. The Mansion of Heaven This world, however beautiful, was never meant to be The place that we would call our home for all eternity. And though we would not choose to leave, A loving God knows best, And in His time, He lifts us to a place of peace and rest. For He has built a mansion where His children will abide, Free from pain and sorrow, forever at His side. He said He'd never leave us to face our trials alone, And though sometimes we fail Him, He never fails His own. And even when our choices are less than He would ask, He knows when human courage is unequal to the task. We cannot judge what happens, Though tears and questions start - We only see what's visible - God sees into the heart... And though there may be many things That we cannot explain, We can be sure it breaks His heart To see His children's pain. In loving arms, He bears us to a quiet place apart Where He mends the wounded spirit And heals the broken heart. And though these ones we love so much Have left our present sight And passed into a better world of majesty and light, Someday we'll be together in our Father's home above, Where we'll thank Him for His mercy And pra

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 05, 2005