Obituary of Ken McGerrigle

Kenneth (Ken) Alexander McGerrigle passed away at his residence in Harlan District, Harlan, Saskatchewan, May 12, 2021 at the age of 94 years.

 

Ken is survived by: his loving wife, Nancy McGerrigle; daughters, Heather Haynes, Sharon (Randy) Mark and Colleen McGerrigle; sister, Mae Johnson; seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all his family and the many neighbors and friends that he has cultivated throughout his extensive life.

 

Ken is predeceased by: his parents, John and Ethel McGerrigle; brothers, Gordon and Don; sister-in-law, Grace McGerrigle; and brother-in-law, Calvert Johnson.

 

A Private Graveside Service for Ken will be held at the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, Saskatchewan on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 2:00 PM. Due to the current restrictions the service will be by invitation only.

 

Donations in memory of Ken may be made to Frenchman Butte Legion or donor's charity of choice.

 

Ken's funeral card can be viewed or downloaded from the link below.

 

https://indd.adobe.com/view/c8ab4e16-c7d0-4ade-89d5-f1a662adb208

 

~ Eulogy ~

 

Ken was born May 25, 1926, at Edam, Saskatchewan and moved to Harlan, Saskatchewan with his family at the age of 3. 

Ken came to Harlan with his mother, Ethel, and his siblings Mae and Gordon via train from Glaslyn to St. Walburg where they were met by the Pepper family who brought them to Frenchman Butte by team and wagon.  Archie Wagner met them there and completed their journey with them to Harlan to reunite them with Mr. John McGerrigle who had been hired to teach at the Harlan School.  Ken’s brother Don, who was born later in Harlan, completed their family.  The McGerrigle family lived in an old house on the school property that also served as the local Post Office ran by Mrs. McGerrigle.  Later the house was replaced with a newer version that was eventually moved to the farm where Mrs. McGerrigle continued to run the Post Office. 

Ken attended the Harlan school for 8 years, he had his 1^st job there doing all their janitorial work during the last 3 years he was in attendance.  At 16 he travelled to Trail, B.C. and stayed in his cousin’s basement on a cot and worked with him cleaning basements after a flood then went to work in a lead burning smelter cleaning tanks, after about a year his company transferred him to a Tungsten mine in Hazleton, B.C. where he worked with an electrician and shared accommodations with 2 other men in a bunk house.  He spent his time at the mine wiring shacks and only once had to go down the mine to string lights.  While home on vacation the mine closed so Ken did some thrashing for local farms then went South to Cabri and Hazelet area to Combine.  In January 1945 he enrolled in the army where he was mustered at Dundurn for the Royal Edmonton Regiment.  He took his basic training in Peterborough and advanced training at Petawawa, Ontario.  His regiment had been sent home on embarkation leave when the war ended in Europe.  Ken along with several other members of his regiment, signed up for the Japanese war and they were sent to Vernon, B.C. for further training.   Ken’s regiment was here until the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan and ended WW2 after which they were transported back to Shilo, Manitoba and later discharged.  Ken came back to Harlan and bought the Stevenson place.  Ken and Gordon worked in partnership on their farms for many years with stints at side jobs in a sawmill in the bush and working at the Lloydminster Post Office during the Christmas rush.  He also delivered mail from Lloydminster for the Harlan and surrounding areas Post Offices.  He hired out to combine for other local farmers and even did a couple years of fill in relief running the ferry across the North Saskatchewan River.   

Ken and Gordon played ball on the local Harlan ball team most Sundays, eventually the team petered out so they joined the Alcurve team where Ken met Nancy Jacobson.  They were married in 1961 and proceeded to start their own family having 3 girls; Heather, Sharon and Colleen.  Soon the little house they were living in became too small so with the help of his Brother Gordon and his Brother-in-law, Calvert Johnson, they milled lumber and built the current house which the family moved into in 1968.  Over the ensuing years there were many trips to Frenchman Butte for legion meetings and events, Christmas concerts and parades; many fishing trips to Worthington and Amyot lake and a couple trips to BC for visits with Nancy’s brother Ron and his family.  Sunday dinners at the farm always included as many family members as possible followed by many a Canasta or crib game. 

Once Ken and Nancy retired from farming they took a much loved trip to Sweden and several bus tours throughout Western Canada and into the States.  Sunday dinners continued on with their children and grand children always making up extra seats at the table.  Most summer days Ken could be found in their garden tending enough produce to sustain several families.  His participation in the Frenchman Butte Legion increased and he became a member of the Museum association doing rope making displays for the school kids visits.  Many a grand child made an extended stay at the farm with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Ken always knowing no matter what there was always a bed available if it was needed.