Obituary of Harley Stamm

B I O G R A P H Y STAMM: Harley Fredrick Stamm passed away in St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Monday, January 3, 2005 at the age of 83 years. Harley is survived by: one sister Hazel James; two nephews: Keith James and Mark James; one niece Joyce; his adopted family: Josie Taylor; Freda Stark; Eva Smith; Tony Smith; Helen Ambler; Adele McBeth and all their family. Harley was predeceased by his wife Mary Smith and her two sons: Fred and Harold Smith. The funeral service for Harley was conducted from the McCaw Funeral Chapel, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, January 8, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. A eulogy was given by Jim Metherell. Special music was sung by Jeanine Hatchard and Greg Nelson. Honorary pallbearers were all his friends and family, Tom Nelson, Greg Nelson and Bob Kenderdine. Active pallbearers were: Keith James, Mark James, Jim Metherall, David Nelson, Glen Nelson, Ken Ross and Dennis Nelson. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy - Jim Metherall I am very honoured that Mark and Josie asked me to speak about Harley. He was such a special person to us all. Harley Frederick Stamm was born October 25, 1921 near Etzikom, Alberta, son of Fred and Bessie Stamm and a little brother to Hazel. He spent his first years in the dry ranching country. IN 1929 the family moved to the Bear Island district where Uncle Alex Stamm farmed. Fred and Bessie first built a small home on NE 33. Later that year they bought the Billy Hume farm and moved into the house on SW 28 where Harley lived most of his life. Harley took part in all the chores that went along with growing up on a mixed farm in the 30: tending to cattle and horses, stooking, threshing, keeping the stove supplied with wood. There were interesting things to do on the farm. His father was quite mechanically inclined and innovative, having one of the first 32 volt lighting systems in the area. Fred also built a snow plane to make winter travel easier. Harley inherited his father's ability with things mechanical and he pursued it with enthusiasm. In the 1930s he and Hazel attended what was then the Vermilion School of Agriculture where Harley studied agricultural mechanics. During the Second World War he put his mechanical aptitude to use in the army. In the 50s and 60s Harley was among the first to have an electric welder and was frequently called on to weld up a snowplow or repair machinery for neighbours. After the war Harley farmed with his father until his death in 1948. Mrs. Stamm was in poor health by then so Hazel and husband Oriavel James came back to tend to her and help with the farm. Oriavel and Harley farmed together for a few years before separating the two operations. Harley's great love of animals ended at the corral gate, so he was quite happy to relinquish responsibility for the livestock and concentrate on grain farming. He had an International truck with a built-in PTO auger that he used to haul grain for some of his neighbours. In the 70s Harley started renting out some of his land, continuing until it was all rented in the 80s. But he didn't lose interest in farming. In fact, he probably enjoyed it more. He spent many days working with us and loved to listen to a machine that was running nicely. The only thing better was a machine that needed fixing. Fortunately for Harley, we had our share of those, and he was always eager to lend his expertise and a car trunk full of tools. Another part of farming that was still available to Harley was the auction sale. He and my Dad could often be found at a sale swapping yarns about the old machinery in the back row. Through the 90s Harley spent more of his time in Lloydminster. There were things in town that needed fixing, too. Down at the Credit Union John Vinek seemed to find a never-ending supply of humidifiers and other appliances for Harley to repair. And repair them he did! It is amazing what can be done wit ha few strategically placed pop rivets and a little patch of fibreglass. Harley could fix anything from a child's toy to the 'Doctor Lady's' Thunderbird. One of his projects at that time was his 'grass cutter,' as he called it. He kept the farmyard trimmed like a golf course, and that took its toll on more that a few mowers. One of th used riding machines he acquired had a great engine but he couldn't keep the mower deck working. Undaunted, he rigged up not one, but three push mowers side-by-side and tied them behind the little tractor. He sat there proudly driving around on the only four-motor law mower in the country. Over the years Harley had a long procession of cars to work on as well - big cars - Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, Chrysler Imperials. If one big old car was good, two or three big old cars had to be better. Why not have a couple of spares, just in case? It was one of those cars that Harley sold to Keith for $100 when he needed when to get to his first job. Later, when Keith upgraded to a newer car, Harley insisted on buying the old one back - for $100. That was the same selfless generosity that Harley demonstrated in everything he did. He was the most sincere and gentle of men, and he was a gentleman. It was almost impossible to get a restaurant bill before he grabbed it, and he looked hurt if you succeeded. Joyce talks about his generosity to them as kids: their first watches always came from Uncle Harley. He always had gifts - teddy bears of little flashlights for Keith and Susan's your children. Joyce thought it was generous of Harley to endure her childhood music practice. For her, family meant Mum, Dad, Mark, Keith and Uncle Harley. Harley got along well with all sorts of people. He was a good listener, whether he agreed with what was being said or not. He was shy, and would certainly try to avoid confrontation, but he would stand his ground on the important issues. Greg tells about receiving a surprisingly stern rebuke from Harley for some adolescent misdemeanour. He was equally tenacious in his stewardship of the land he loved so much. When we wanted to depart from the farming practices that he knew and understood, we had to bring good evidence from qualified agrologists that the changes would be good for the land. He was delighted to see trees grow back after the bulldozer or perennial crops where the dirt used to blow. He remembered well the lessons of the thirties. Harley loved to read. He read to learn as much as to be entertained. The books he read were about natural history, geography, and politics. He lived for those things, as well. The Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles made many trips to the Great Sand Hills and badlands of Saskatchewan, to Plentywood, Montana, or to a fishing spot with cousin Ben or Donald Hardy. In recent years Harley belongs to the Mid West Archaeological Society and enjoyed touring many of the interesting sites in the area with those new friends. Often the trips were to meetings. Harley took his civic responsibilities seriously, being active in the Royal Canadian Legion, the Co-op, the Credit Union, the Wheat Pool, the CCF and NDP, and the National Farmers' Union. He took part in the 1959 "On To Ottawa" trek, led by Pool President J.H. Wesson, seeking aid for beleaguered farmers. More recently the trips were with Art Meyers or George and Rose Danychuk. The cars may have gotten newer, but many of the same old issues in agriculture and politics kept Harley working for the common good. Despite his shyness, Harley would not hesitate to take pen and paper and write the most interesting and entertaining letters. His letters were all keepers, whether they were to bend the ear of an errant Prime Minister, to thank someone for a kindness shown, or to delight a friend with a humourous narrative of his latest trip. Harley's humour was quiet and gentle, but always worth remembering. One day when we were touring yet another dried-out crop, he stepped out of the truck, looked around at the sparse stand, and said, "My, it has good spacing, doesn't it?" In 1974 Harley met his life's partner, Mary Smith. They both belonged to the Minus One Club and she wanted to go to a dance with him. He said he didn't know how to dance. She said, "I'll teach you." She did, and they danced together for nearly 30 years. As Josie said, Mary's family became his adopted family, and he became part of theirs. Through Christmases, birthdays, medical appointments, weddings - all the things that mark the flow of life - he was honoured and delighted to share the benefits of family with them. Mary's health began to fail and she passed away in 2001. Harley's generosity and perseverance enabled him to tend to her during her illness, but he never got over the loss. One of the things Harley would do - I saw it often when we were sitting in the truck waiting for the combine to fill up - if the tasks at hand were all taken care of and the conversation had run its course, he would settle back into the seat, fold his hands in his lap, and go to sleep. I like to think that's what he is doing now. Rest peacefully, my friend. Card of Thanks One behalf of Harley's family, and adopted family I would like to thank Lloydminster Meals on Wheels. To the Lloydminster Ambulance, Emergency Room and Air Ambulance (Saskatoon) staff for the immediate care and consideration for Harley and family, we thank you. The nursing staff and doctors at St. Paul's ICU Unit are wonderful. Thank you Dr. Abe Unger, nursing staff and in particular, nurse Rhonda. Your compassion and care of Harley was superb. Thank you, on behalf of myself, Ray and Harley's for the consideration your showed for us also. Pastor Robert of St. Paul's Pastoral Care, thank you for your prayers. Thank you for the food, flowers, cards, phone calls and donations from neighbors, family and friends. To Reverend Harold Martin, than you for your service, which spoke to Harley's life and to who he was. To Reverend Jim Osborne, thank you for coming from Saskatoon to talk about your friend Harley. Thank you to Jeanine and Greg for the beautiful music. You truly honored someone who loved to hear you play and sing. To Sgt. At Arms, Rick Mallet and all the Legion Members who honored Harley, thank you. He would be embarrassed but so pleased you would do that for him. Thank you Pastor Lyle Berg for your part in the Legion Tribute. Jim Metherell, your eulogy for Harley allowed so many people to know who Harley was. So much of his life was unknown as he was far more interested in you than speaking about himself. You knew him well and your thoughtful words and memories of him were so well done. Thank you. He thought so much of you and Fran. Thank you for the "Harley stories," too. Thank you to all the active and honorary pallbearers. How fitting his last ride was in a Cadillac. He would be so pleased. "Such a wonderful motor and such a nice ride." To all those who came to his service thank you. How wonderful to see so many people there. To those in the community who cared about Harley, thank you. To the ladies at the Presbyterian Church thank you for the lunch. You do a great job. Glenn and Dale McCaw thank you for knowing what we all need. You and your staff make a difficult task so much easier. You have a way of making everyone feel cared for. Thank you from us all. Josie Taylor for: Hazel James, Keith, Mark and Joyce, Carol & Ken Ross, Freda Stark, Eva Smith, Toni Smith, Helen Ambler, Adele McBeth and all our families Donations in memory of Harley may be made to the Charity of the Donor's Choice.