DR. HARRY SKINNER

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DR. HARRY SKINNER Suddenly, but gently, at Saint Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Dr. James Harrison Skinner passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2007. Born to John Frederick and Edna Olivette Skinner on September 15, 1923, Harry grew up with his three older brothers in a happy and boisterous household in Morris, MB. 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, 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 August 6, 1949. In 1953, the young couple and first son, David, settled in Fort Frances, ON, 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 was undoubtedly 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 had also 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 Cadet 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, AZ. 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 will be held at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, ON, on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. with Father Wayne McIntosh and Reverend Barbara Murray officiating. A reception will follow 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 Avenue, Fort Frances, ON P9A 2B7, or to the National Office of Ducks Unlimited, Oak Hammock Marsh Conservation Centre, Box 1160, Stonewall, MB R0C 2Z0, or in care of Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, ON P9A 3M8. Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 03, 2007