VERN HILDAHL, O.M.

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VERN HILDAHL, O.M. Born near Estevan, SK on November 4, 1917, Vern grew up on a farm with his brother Everett who is living now in Estevan, his sister Eleanor and his sister Vi with whom he was particularly close. Early work on the farm and in coal mines during the Depression gave Vern a work ethic and an appreciation that one accepted difficulties in life as challenges. Joining the Air Force during the war brought him to Manitoba where he taught Meteorology to Commonwealth navigators. In his life, Vern did not let the lack of a formal education stop him from learning, leading and teaching. In Manitoba he met Evelyn his wife of 55 years. Until she died in 2000 she was his soul mate and constant support. They were inseparable. Following the war he joined the Federal Civil Service and became a Forest Entomologist. Despite having not attended university he became an academic, publishing 38 scientific papers and eventually writing a book, Heritage Trees of Manitoba with his friend Martin Benum. Vern loved his work. Vern was named the Citizen of the Year in Fort Garry for his community work, received the Dr. Alan Beaven Care Award for his forestry contribution and he received the Order of Manitoba for his efforts in saving Manitoba's elm trees from Dutch elm disease. Vern and Evelyn raised four sons, Keith, Wayne, Ken and Craig. They were proud of us, proud of their daughters-in-law, Ellen, Rita, Judy and Wendy; and they were especially proud of the 13 grandchildren they loved: Jeff, Sky, Paul, Tyler, Kristin, Mark, Karen, Jamie, Stefan, Thomas, Erik, Michael and Evan. A kind and gentle man, Vern saw trees as his friends. He enjoyed lake life and he enjoyed golf. His hole-in-one after his 80th birthday was special. Dad left us with a lasting gift of values; community service, hard work, resilience, generosity, commitment to family and acceptance of others. Through these values his memory will be kept alive within us. We will miss him. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 25 at 11:00 a.m., Westworth United Church, 1950 Grosvenor Ave. (at Lanark), Winnipeg, MB. Donations in Vern's memory may be made to the Manitoba Forestry Association, 900 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, R3M 0Y4. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 24, 2005