Howard BOAKE

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

BOAKE: Howard Calder Boake passed away peacefully at the Wawanesa Personal Care Home on July 9th, 2015 at the age of 93 years. Howard was born on the family farm north of Nesbitt on April 4th, 1922. Howard was the eldest of four children (one passing away in infancy) born to John and Clara (nee Calder) Boake. Other than two years served in the army as a cook, Howard lived all his life in the Nesbitt area. Howard met his future wife of 61 years, Doreen Gladys Hyde while she was working in the Co-op store in Nesbitt. They were married in 1945 and moved to the SE 5-7-18W in 1947 where they farmed together until Doreen’s passing in 2006. They raised two sons John and Doug and were very helpful in getting them started in farming, always there to help when needed. Howard left school at an early age to farm with his dad. He was a farmer through and through and loved everything associated with it, although when repairing equipment, if things did not go as planned, he could throw a wrench or part as far as the best of them. Howard and Doreen had a mixed farm, growing grain and raising all types livestock, horses and cattle being his favorites. In his younger years when time allowed he worked for some of the neighboring farmers and had many fond memories and interesting stories of this time in his life. Howard was not a complainer and though many of the earlier years on the farm were tough, he took the good with the bad and persevered with hard work and determination. Howard experienced many changes in his lifetime of farming, from working with horses and threshing machines to driving a four-wheel drive tractor and self-propelled combine. For many years Howard, his two sons, brother Ralph and nephew Ron worked together farming and he enjoyed this very much. Howard was a people person with a good sense of humor and he enjoyed visiting with anyone and everyone at anytime, as well as sharing the odd beverage should the occasion arise. He would lend a helping hand to neighbors whenever he could. Howard loved his family and was devoted to them. He loved teasing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed watching them grow up. He took a keen interest in what his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were doing and would watch them play baseball, curl and perform in Christmas concerts among other things. Family gatherings were also a special event in his life, including his birthday which he shared with his granddaughter Lisa. He will be remembered as the Christmas “turkey carver”, which he did for many years. Howard also attended many family reunions in Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. Howard enjoyed many activities from card playing to goose hunting to golfing, but his sport of choice was curling which he participated in for around sixty years, starting in Nesbitt’s one sheet curling rink in 1942. He enjoyed curling with good friend and neighbor Wes Rathwell for 25 years and spoke of this often. Howard and Doreen attended the Silver Broom for a few years, meeting new friends and seeing new places like Switzerland. Howard was a Legion member, he served on the Bertha School Board for 6 years and on the Pool Elevator Board in Nesbitt for 25 years. He was very interested in local history, reading and studying many of the area history books and could often be counted on to advise when and where someone lived as well as some of their family history. Howard spend the last few months in the Wawanesa Personal Care Home where he received excellent care and enjoyed visiting with staff and residents. Dad had good health most of his life, loved his family, loved farming and enjoyed his friends and neighbors, a life well lived. He will be sadly missed by all and fondly remembered. Howard leaves to mourn his son, Doug (Darlene), daughter-in-law Muriel, five grandchildren: Andrew (Jennifer), Heather (Travis), Trevor, Connie, Lisa (Mark) and five great-grandchildren: Kayleigh, Addison, Teagan, Bayley, and Calder, brother Ralph (Marney), sisters-in-law Grace Huculak, Bernice Christensen, Marney Boake, and brother-in-law Clayton Hunter, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Howard was predeceased by his wife Doreen (nee Hyde), son Jack Boake, sister Rita (Bill) Garbe, infant brother James Boake and parents John and Clara (nee Calder) Boake, as well as numerous extended family members. A family graveside service was held on July 14, 2015 at the Minnewawa Cemetery, followed by a Memorial Receptions at the Nesbitt Community Hall. Donations in Howard’s memory can be made to The Wawanesa Activities Department, c/o Prairie Mountain Health Authority, Box 309, Wawanesa, MB, R0K 2G0, or to CancerCare Manitoba, 620 Frederick St., Brandon, MB R7A 2B3, or to a charity of your choice.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jul 25, 2015