HARVEY CALVIN HELWER

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HARVEY CALVIN HELWER Suddenly, at his residence, on Sunday, July 30, 2000 Harvey Helwer, aged 65 years of Libau, Manitoba. He leaves surviving his two children, son Bradley (Barb) of Libau and daughter Judy (Alan) Laing; four grandchildren, Meechel (Dale), David, Philip and Conner; three brothers, Ron (Vera) of Brandon, Ed (Adeline) and Irvin, both of Teulon; five sisters, Violet Hubert of California, Ester (Clare) McKenty of Winnipeg, Eleanor (Ross) Olive of Alberta, June (Jerry) Letkeman of Plum Coulee, Margaret (Henry) Hanssen of Wawanesa. He will also be sadly missed by numerous nieces, nephews and their families, many friends, especially his close friends Bob and Lorraine Mouflier. Harvey was predeceased by his parents, Fred in February of 1966, and Elsie in October of 1994, as well as his brother-in-law Lawrence in 1998. Harvey grew up on the family farm in Libau, Manitoba with his mother, father and three brothers and five sisters. Life on the farm back then was always a lot of work. In the mid fifties, he worked for Simcoe Construction of Winnipeg, in the late fifties he started in business with his older brother Ron, they operated a garage in Libau. Harvey then married in 1959 and went on his own with a bulk fuel dealership which he ran until 1971. He then went to work on construction in Northern Manitoba, first working as an operator and service man. Always being very mechanically inclined the company soon realized that even though he had no formal schooling as a mechanic, he was more experienced than most. Harvey worked on some of the Hydro projects in Northern Manitoba and an Open Pit Mine in Pickel Lake, Ontario. In 1978 to 1979 he worked in Snow Lake, Manitoba where they build a water pipeline and an Ore Concentrator. It is here that his son Brad joined him and worked along side him during summer holidays. They both enjoyed the summer very much, even though they worked seven days a week and very long hours. Harvey then went to Great Falls, MB for two years on a Hydro project. In 1982, he went to Norman Wells, NWT and worked there until 1985 when he went to Limestone for another Hydro project. In 1986, he purchased a quarter section of land near Libau that had been homesteaded by his grandparents in the 1890s, he was very proud to have this land back in the family. He still worked away from home until 1992, spending time in WaWa, Ontario and then in Stewart, BC. Harvey then farmed in Libau growing 1200 acres of grain. Harvey and Brad then went into cattle in 1996. The next year they calved out 130 cows, with Harvey spending many hours drying off the calves in thirty below zero weather. Harvey will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. An evening prayer service will be held on Thursday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m. in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, South Main Street, Selkirk with Pastor Terry Throndson officiating. Interment to follow in the parish cemetery. Harveys nieces and nephews will be his pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Selkirk, Man. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 02, 2000