Obituary of Gerhard "Gary" John Harder

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Passed away peacefully with family by his side on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Hospice Wellington at the age of 81.

Gary will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife Lydia Neufeld Harder, sons Mark Diller Harder (Rachel) and Kendall Jongejan Harder (Charleen), daughter Kristen Wolf Ear (Fred Toulouse), grandchildren Micah (Molly), Lorena (Hannah), Nathan, Mitchell (Amaiha), Cheyanne, Dylan (Athena), Charlotte, Tobias, and Mattea, and great-grandchildren Kathira and Briar. His memory will also be cherished by Allen (Elsiana) Harder, Lydia Harder, Dolores Harder, Victor Neufeld, Hugo (Doreen) Neufeld, Ruth (Edwin) Epp, Martha Neufeld, and a broad community of family and friends.

Gary was predeceased by his parents Gerhard and Susie Harder, Lydia's parents Cornelius K. and Margarete Neufeld, brothers Leonard Harder and Donald Harder, and his sister-in-law Shirley Neufeld.

Born in Rosemary, Alberta, Gary was raised on an irrigation farm, and baptized May 21, 1962. He married Lydia in 1964. Gary served a lifelong calling to pastoral ministry, serving at Waters Mennonite in Lively, Ontario, First Mennonite in Edmonton, and Toronto United Mennonite Church, as well as several interim pastorates together with Lydia. He also served the wider church by mentoring over 30 ministry interns, teaching church and ministry at Conrad Grebel University College, and serving on many boards and committees over the years. His life-giving passions included choral singing and conducting (especially J.S. Bach), camping, playing and watching sports, baking bread, playing scrabble, and making breakfast for his family. Gary will be remembered as a follower of Jesus, a generous creative thinker, and an attentive listener and conversationalist.

Special thanks to the staff at Hospice Wellington for their compassionate care.

Friends and relatives are invited to a Visitation at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church, 1310 King St. N, St. Jacobs, on Thursday, March 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and again on Friday, March 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at the church on Saturday, March 23 at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church basement. A private family interment will take place at St. Jacobs Mennonite Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family and donations to Hospice Wellington, Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre, or MCC Ontario may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home.