Obituary for Harold Ivan Kellar
Harold Ivan Kellar
The family are sad to announce the sudden passing of Harold Kellar, age 80, at his home in Devlin, Ontario, on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Harold was born January 28, 1941 at the Cuthbertson Nursing Home in Devlin to Cecil and Mildred Kellar, the 7th of 10 children. Harold spent most of his life “on the farm”, raising his family and working the land.
In 1963 Harold married his best friend and the love of his life, Karen LaBelle. They lived on the farm and began raising their family. They moved to the Mando camp in Atikokan, adding another daughter to the fold before making a home in Dryden. They made many lifelong friends there and a third daughter was born. He worked for Imperial Oil and operated a boarding stable where he was able to work with horses, another of his great loves. He was especially proud of “Golden Alcatraz” (Goldie), a stallion he raised and trained. The adventures they had together were many and told to us often over the years. After leaving Dryden, the family moved to a farm north of Emo and added a fourth daughter to the family.
Harold had a very strong work ethic and took pride in everything he did. He especially enjoyed running heavy equipment, earning his ticket in 1972. Harold built many roads over the years and was very proud to be part of the crew that built the 502.
In 1975, Harold, Karen and family built their home on the north end of the farm. Their door was always open to family and friends. Sundays became the day for everyone to get together for a meal, to play cards, tell stories and share good times and bad.
In 1983 Harold and his dad took a drive to Kenny Fisher’s farm where Cecil took a look at the herd of draft horses and told him to pick the team of bays. “Pride” and “Joy” came home with them that day. Harold and neighbour Dave Woodgate spent many hours working with them, until they were one of the best teams in the district. At the urging of friends, Harold took his team to their first horse show at the Dryden Fair. Pride and Joy were first draft horse team shown there in years, but other teams soon followed, and the draft horse shows became very popular. The fall fairs became family time. The Kellar camper was the headquarters for all the children and grandchildren to hang out in while the horse shows were being held. Harold would encourage anyone that was interested to drive Pride and Joy in different classes, and soon had a line-up every year at fair time. Wintertime brought requests for sleigh rides and Harold and his team were kept very busy over the years.
In his later years Harold could often be found sitting at the kitchen table playing solitaire, where help was not asked for, nor appreciated. He loved music and had a great singing voice. Harold and Karen were often found at the country jams at the Emo Legion where he encouraged his friends to share their musical talents. He especially enjoyed their friend Emily Smith’s accordion playing. In 2013 he was named “Citizen of the Year” for La Vallee, for his contributions to the community.
Harold is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; daughters Rosanne Farmer (Paul), Robin Kellar, Ann Marie Kellar (Bill) and Angela Fiset (Jack), and son Kevin; grandchildren Krista Hunt (Scott), Riley Kellar (Tracey), J.J. Fiset, Jaymee Fiset (Matt), Marisa Flamand, Mackenzie Flamand and Tyson Farmer; great-grandchildren Shelby, Damien, Aymee and Ripley Hunt, and Lilyana Berg.
He is also survived by sisters Irene Grennier, Helen Cousineau, Audrey Whitman, Betty Wright (Glen), Dorothy Westover, sisters-in-law Jean Kellar, Yvonne Kellar, Joanne Hyatt and brother-in-law Dale LaBelle (Donna) and many, many nieces and nephews.
Harold was predeceased by his parents Cecil & Mildred Kellar, mother and father-in-law Lillian Kellar & Bill LaBelle, brothers Earl, Ken, Jim and George, sisters-in-law Dixie, Jackie and Carmilla, brothers-in-law Lanny, Wayne, Jim, Mel, Ray, Darrel and Alan.
A Celebration of Harold’s life will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021, 1:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Emo, Ontario. Covid restrictions will apply. A video of the service will be posted online through Northridge Funeral Home. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place.
Honourary pallbearers will be Les Caul, James Eastman, Doug Teeple, Jack Fiset, Scott Hunt, Bill Rousseau, Paul Farmer, Matt Berg, Riley Kellar, J.J. Fiset, Mackenzie Flamand, Tyson Farmer and Damien Hunt.
If friends and family so desire, donations may be made to the Fort Frances Community Chest, 822 Williams Ave., Fort Frances, ON P9A 0A5 or through Northridge Funeral Home, 6446 Hwy 11 West, P.O. Box 89, Emo, ON P0W 1E0. Online condolences may be posted at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
Copy and paste this link to view the service of celebration and remembrance of Harold Kellar
https://vimeo.com/602798068/9a6c69b029
The family are sad to announce the sudden passing of Harold Kellar, age 80, at his home in Devlin, Ontario, on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Harold was born January 28, 1941 at the Cuthbertson Nursing Home in Devlin to Cecil and Mildred Kellar, the 7th of 10 children. Harold spent most of his life “on the farm”, raising his family and working the land.
In 1963 Harold married his best friend and the love of his life, Karen LaBelle. They lived on the farm and began raising their family. They moved to the Mando camp in Atikokan, adding another daughter to the fold before making a home in Dryden. They made many lifelong friends there and a third daughter was born. He worked for Imperial Oil and operated a boarding stable where he was able to work with horses, another of his great loves. He was especially proud of “Golden Alcatraz” (Goldie), a stallion he raised and trained. The adventures they had together were many and told to us often over the years. After leaving Dryden, the family moved to a farm north of Emo and added a fourth daughter to the family.
Harold had a very strong work ethic and took pride in everything he did. He especially enjoyed running heavy equipment, earning his ticket in 1972. Harold built many roads over the years and was very proud to be part of the crew that built the 502.
In 1975, Harold, Karen and family built their home on the north end of the farm. Their door was always open to family and friends. Sundays became the day for everyone to get together for a meal, to play cards, tell stories and share good times and bad.
In 1983 Harold and his dad took a drive to Kenny Fisher’s farm where Cecil took a look at the herd of draft horses and told him to pick the team of bays. “Pride” and “Joy” came home with them that day. Harold and neighbour Dave Woodgate spent many hours working with them, until they were one of the best teams in the district. At the urging of friends, Harold took his team to their first horse show at the Dryden Fair. Pride and Joy were first draft horse team shown there in years, but other teams soon followed, and the draft horse shows became very popular. The fall fairs became family time. The Kellar camper was the headquarters for all the children and grandchildren to hang out in while the horse shows were being held. Harold would encourage anyone that was interested to drive Pride and Joy in different classes, and soon had a line-up every year at fair time. Wintertime brought requests for sleigh rides and Harold and his team were kept very busy over the years.
In his later years Harold could often be found sitting at the kitchen table playing solitaire, where help was not asked for, nor appreciated. He loved music and had a great singing voice. Harold and Karen were often found at the country jams at the Emo Legion where he encouraged his friends to share their musical talents. He especially enjoyed their friend Emily Smith’s accordion playing. In 2013 he was named “Citizen of the Year” for La Vallee, for his contributions to the community.
Harold is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; daughters Rosanne Farmer (Paul), Robin Kellar, Ann Marie Kellar (Bill) and Angela Fiset (Jack), and son Kevin; grandchildren Krista Hunt (Scott), Riley Kellar (Tracey), J.J. Fiset, Jaymee Fiset (Matt), Marisa Flamand, Mackenzie Flamand and Tyson Farmer; great-grandchildren Shelby, Damien, Aymee and Ripley Hunt, and Lilyana Berg.
He is also survived by sisters Irene Grennier, Helen Cousineau, Audrey Whitman, Betty Wright (Glen), Dorothy Westover, sisters-in-law Jean Kellar, Yvonne Kellar, Joanne Hyatt and brother-in-law Dale LaBelle (Donna) and many, many nieces and nephews.
Harold was predeceased by his parents Cecil & Mildred Kellar, mother and father-in-law Lillian Kellar & Bill LaBelle, brothers Earl, Ken, Jim and George, sisters-in-law Dixie, Jackie and Carmilla, brothers-in-law Lanny, Wayne, Jim, Mel, Ray, Darrel and Alan.
A Celebration of Harold’s life will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021, 1:00 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Emo, Ontario. Covid restrictions will apply. A video of the service will be posted online through Northridge Funeral Home. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place.
Honourary pallbearers will be Les Caul, James Eastman, Doug Teeple, Jack Fiset, Scott Hunt, Bill Rousseau, Paul Farmer, Matt Berg, Riley Kellar, J.J. Fiset, Mackenzie Flamand, Tyson Farmer and Damien Hunt.
If friends and family so desire, donations may be made to the Fort Frances Community Chest, 822 Williams Ave., Fort Frances, ON P9A 0A5 or through Northridge Funeral Home, 6446 Hwy 11 West, P.O. Box 89, Emo, ON P0W 1E0. Online condolences may be posted at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
Copy and paste this link to view the service of celebration and remembrance of Harold Kellar
https://vimeo.com/602798068/9a6c69b029