PETER HARDER

Condolences & Memories (1 entries)

• First off, please let me extend our deepest sympathies to the family from Helen Blatz and family (Terry, Ron & Maxine). The news of Peter's passing hurts as somehow these losses seems to start to take away some of the bedrock of lived experiences, for those of us who identify themselves as people from Kane. So, a kid usually doesn't take that much notice of people your are of the same age as ones parents ages so my personal memories of Peter are not that many. I do remember though, with absolute fondness, "John Deere Days". One day a year that we did not take the school bus home but instead walked over to Peter's John Deere dealership. There we would meet our father, get to have a bakery baked glazed yeast donut, and what a big deal that was. To this day when I smell or eat a glazed donut the memory of John Deere Days in Kane come rushing back. It was a bigger event than Canada Day for us :-). I also remember Peter as being the one to sharpen our skates when that was needed. He took them to the shop and we were allowed to stand and watch as he carefully brought them back to "like new" condition. I always had this feeling that he really cared about us and our skates and that he was never bothered by us hanging around to watch. He seemed so kind, gentle and humble. What wonderful virtues. I also remember with amazement how he would cut the grass with his riding mower at school. It may have been in preparation for the big school picnic, I'm not quite sure. He had devised (invented) this attachment for his riding mower that would slowly drip insecticide into the hot muffler and it would come out as a cloud of mosquito killing fog that would invade the trees, grass and shrubs that surround the school grounds all while he was cutting the grass. Peter, you were a good man and had a wonderful family who added so much to our wonderful community. You will be missed but memories of you and your family will live on and be shared for years to come. God Bless you all. - Posted by: Ron Blatz (Friend) on: Jun 14, 2021