Passed away peacefully on May 4, 2002 - Surviving him are his three loving sons; Alfred James (Laurie Anne) and children, Sarah Anne and Paul James; William Herbert (Debbie Komaric); and Roy Bradley. Also surviving are two sisters, Edith Bryan of Brandon, Manitoba and Irene Kirkpatrick of Houston, Texas. “Uncle Jim” also has many nieces and nephews. Predeceasing him were his parents, Alfred Ernest and Anna Louise (nee Austen), brothers Thomas, Howard and John and sisters Elisabeth and Grace. Herb was born in Oyen, Alberta on June 13, 1918. Raised on the prairies,he moved to Calgary in 1938 to attend school at what was to become the Southern Alberta Institite of Technology. His training as a motor mechanic was interupted by World War II. He volunteered for service with the Royal Canadian Engineers at the start of hostilities in 1939. Transfered overseas he was stationed in England until the invasion of occupied Europe. With the Fourth Canadian Armoured Division, he participated in the liberation of France and the low countries. A witness to the carnage that occured at Falaise during Operation Totalize, he participated in the evacuation of casualties from that battle. Upon his di charge in 1945, he returned to Calgary, working at a variety of jobs, including siesmic survey with Geophysical Services Limited. Signing on with the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1947 as a wiper and fireman and later, engineman, he started a lifelong passion with trains, For thiry-six years, first with steam and later diesel, he moved freight to and from Aylth Yard in Calgary. He was known to all who worked with him as the “Iron Duke” because of his remarkable capacity for work. Married to Joyce Winifred (nee Ede) in 1950, at the “Stolen Church” in Windermere BC, they settled in Calgary and raised their family. Upon retirement in 1983, they relocated to Parksville, BC where they lived comfortably until Joyce died in 1995. He continued an active social and recreational life until the very end, with many, many friends in the community. He was a loving family man with a sincere regard for the welfare of others. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on May 11, 2002 at Parksville Funeral Chapel on Allsbrook Road in Parksville
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the MS Society or the Salvation Army. Those wishing to send condolences by e-mail may address them to toddjh@nanaimo.ark.com