Harold William Allen 1914-1993

ALLEN MABBOTT

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/17/2011 at 19:41:42

Onawa Democrat
17 June 1993

Harold William Allen died in Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital, Castor, Alberta, Canada, on Tuesday, April 27, 1993 at the age of 79 years. Born January 8, 1914 in Whiting, Iowa. Harold was one of 10 children born to Ralph and Rosa Allen. That summer, the family immigrated to Canada and homesteaded south of Halkirk. He attended Leader and Daisy Bank schools. In 1926 the family started back to Iowa but only got as far as Swift Current, Sask. Harold stayed behind and worked for Wes Mow for room and board. Over the next several years, on rented land, he got his own field work done by breaking plow horses for others. Horses he was breaking were harnessed to already broke ones and by the time the new horses were broke, the field work was done. On June 27, 1935, he married Goldie Mabbott. Harold and Goldie were kept busy and broke over the next few years as they were blessed with six children. In 1966 disaster struck and their house and all their belongings burned to the ground, but with the help of good neighbors they were able to rebuild their lives. In 1974, after farming for 40 years in the Horseshoe district south of Castor, Harold and Goldie retired to Castor, but Harold continued to farm on a smaller scale by plowing gardens for residents of Castor in the spring and fall. In 1992 they sold their house and moved into Legion Manor II. Harold enjoyed lapidary work, woodworking, floor curling, playing cards and especially oldtime music.

His family and friends will always remember his wonderful sense of humor, he always had a joke or gag to play on the unsuspecting.

Harold is predeceased by his parents, his sister, Esther, his brother Cyril, son-in-law, Richard Wilkie and two grandsons, Lynne and Jeff.

Harold will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife, Goldie; four sons, Clarence and his wife, Anne of Castor, Kenneth Mearl and his wife, Dolly of Calgary, Jim and his wife, Carol of Regina and Don and his wife, Nita of Erskine; two daughters, Peggy and her husband, Richard Brown of Castor and Phyllis of Strathmore; two brothers, Mearl and his wife, Helen of Lengley, B.C. and Norman of Saskatoon; five sisters, Jean Woo and Pearl Billit of Swift Current, Edith Slon of Moose Jaw, Alice Parsons of Surrey, B.C. and Joyce and her husband, Roy Bruce of Nepean, Ont. He will also be remembered by 19 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, May 3 in Knox United Church, Castor, with Rev. Rick Prieston officiating. The organist was Reba Kirschman. The congregation hymns were “In The Garden”, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and “Rock of Ages” with Doris Dietz singing “Beyond The Sunset” and the choir singing “Amazing Grace”. Honorary pallbearers were Harry Cousineau, Alfred Thumlert, Phillip Dietz, Audie Mellom, Ken McKay, Ken Wyse and “All His Friends and Neighbors”. The active pallbearers were Laverne, Lorne, Blake, Bryan and Jory Allen and Warren Dyck.

Interment took place in the Castor Municipal Cemetery, followed by a time of fellowship and light refreshment in the church hall served by the Knox United Church Women. If friends desire, any memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital, Box 329, Castor, Alta. TOCOXO, Parkview Funeral Chapels serving the Castor Coronation and Consort areas, have been entrusted with the arrangements.

Editors Note; Mrs. Johnnie Hughes of Onawa received word that her late husband’s cousin, Harold Allen of Castor, Alberta Canada passed away. He has an Aunt living in Elmwood Nursing Home, Blanche Allen Taylor and her family in Onawa, cousin Willard Kratz of Whiting, Iowa and Milton Hughes in Omaha, Ne.