W. DOUGLAS HARPER

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W. DOUGLAS HARPER January 27, 1933 - November 18, 2000 Devoted husband, loving father, steadfast friend on November 18, 2000 at Seven Oaks Hospital in Winnipeg, after suffering a stroke at home. Doug was born and raised in Montreal, the son of Harold William and Bernice (Hutcheson) He attended MacDonald College, receiving a BSC in Agriculture in 1954. It was there he met his wife Patricia (Paddye) Jane Peirce. They married October 30, 1954. He went on to receive a BSC in Landscape Architecture and a Masters of City Planning from University of Michigan (Ann Arbor). Once back in Montreal, he pursued a career in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. He was involved in landscaping for Expo 67 and the Habitat Village in Montreal. He helped to develop the Landscape Architecture Program at University of Montreal and taught there from 1966 to 1972. In 1972 he joined Parks Canada, serving as Assistant Director for Atlantic Region from 1973-79 and Director of Prairie and Northern Region in Winnipeg from 1979 until his retirement in 1994. His travels took him all across the country, where he touched the lives of many people. Dougs retirement was filled with his varied interests. He and Paddye moved to an acreage near Argyle and established a business - Oak Grove Gardens & Preserves. They became well known at local farmers markets and craft shows for their line of special jams and jellies, Manitoba maple syrup, and bountiful fresh produce. He was never happier than when he was working in his garden. Doug also actively participated in the Manitoba Genealogical Society, helping others to trace their lineage. Through his own research he had traced parts of his family back as far as the 15th century in England. He was also involved in the local Millennium celebrations and the publication of "Hands Across the Meridian", a local history of Brandt Argyle area. Doug also loved working with and training his German Shorthaired Pointers. He served on the Executive of the Manitoba Pointing Dog Association, and was President of the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Manitoba. Doug is predeceased by his parents; his sister Shirley (Goblot) and his youngest daughter Jennifer Michelle. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 46 years, Patricia (Paddye) his daughters, Patricia Katharane (Yakubosky) of Montreal and Shirley Anne (Darville) of Prince Edward Island; sons, Kenneth Peirce of Edmonton, and William Douglas Jr. of Argyle, Man. and his treasured grandchildren, Jeremy and Whitney of Edmonton, and Anson, Andrew, Angel and Andrea of Prince Edward Island. Friends are invited for a visitation Wednesday, November 22 between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Home in Stonewall, Man. Funeral service will be held at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, Stonewall, at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, November 23. Rev. John Holman will officiate. Cremation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Stonewall, in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 21, 2000