Earl Harland Stewart

August 10, 1940 – April 26, 2021

Earl was born and raised in Shellbrook. Earl completed his grade 8. When he started his grade 9 he was told he had to take French. He said “no I don’t. I quit.” He always said he managed just fine without French and with only a grade 8 education.

His first job was doing road construction for the RM of Shellbrook where he got to work with his dad, Cecil. In 1958, at 17, Earl took a train to Vancouver and he tried his hand at various jobs. That lasted only about one year then he decided to move back to Shellbrook. He worked for Potts Construction in the summers and BA garage in the winters. Earl married Lois Halverson in 1961 and they moved to the Vancouver area. They had two children, Caroline & then James.

Earl found himself drawn to mechanics. He did equipment maintenance, automotive mechanics & he even tried his hand in machinery sales. With his gift of the gab, he could sell ice to an Eskimo. Earl’s work took him from Vancouver to Calgary & Lethbridge. Earl decided to move back to Shellbrook in 1983.  The plan was to build himself a house, on his acreage, and to semi-retire from the workforce. He began working part-time for Curtis Martin at Shellbrook Sales and Service which quickly turned into full-time.

At one point, Earl decided his friend, Jack Rudolph, needed a woman and he was going to find him one. They started going to the single dances in PA, there was one every Saturday. Well, he found a woman for Jack PLUS he got a real bonus in finding one for himself at the same time. Sisters!

In 1985, Earl began courting Lorraine Forbes, a single mother with one child, Michael. In 1989, they were married. (courting was always his word for it-not dating)

In 1987 Earl injured his knee at work did the surgery & rehab route but he was never physically able to return to his mechanics job. He went the self-employed route in the forestry industry. This involved firewood, (which he cut down, loaded & sold tree length by the truckload); saw logs which he made lumber from, planed, and sold; also did pulp contracts for many years.

In the early 2000’s his passion switched to building forestry equipment. He built sawmills, wood processors, and wood splitters. He would modify them so the next one was even better. He was always busy doing something. Earl served as division 2 councilor for RM of Shellbrook No 493 from 2002 to 2018. Earl loved being outdoors, that’s where he would be found -in the garden or tending his spruce trees. He enjoyed camping and fishing in the summer and in the winter he enjoyed the heat of his woodstove when his work was done. 

Earls enjoyed telling stories that would make people laugh – he would modify them a bit each time the story was told, just in case he had told you the story before. He loved pulling pranks on people. Earl had a nickname for everyone. In his earlier years, he was quite a dancer and enjoyed his social outings, whiskey, and card games. As he got older, time with family became his priority. He taught the little ones to play 31 and they took their turn at being his helper when he cooked breakfast.

Earl was always so proud of his young appearance and his active lifestyle.

 Earl was diagnosed with cancer in Jan 2020. He passed away April 26, 2021, at the Parkland Integrated Health Centre – Acute Care, in Shellbrook, with family present.

Earl leaves behind his wife Lorraine Forbes, his daughter Caroline (Johnny) Scherrens, son James (Vickie) Stewart, and son Michael Forbes. His grandchildren: Darlene, Billy (Brandy), Brittinni, Kaitlin, Tyler & Shelby. Great-grandchildren: Samantha, Sydney, Savannah, Kaiden & Dalton. Great great-grandchildren: Karter and Amir. Sister: Sharon Jewitt; sister-in-law: Dorothy Stewart; and aunt: Eva Hartman (Cliff Bunt). Plus many in-laws and out-laws.

Predeceased by his parents Cecil & Gladys, brothers Shelly & Lorne and brother-in-law Ernie.

A private Memorial Service was held for Earl. For those who were not able to attend the Memorial, there is a video link below giving those an opportunity to watch the service:

https://youtu.be/FyYPvOnNO7Y

Those wishing to send condolences may do so by phone calls, texts, or by mail.

Memorial donations may be directed to Shellbrook & Districts Health Services Foundation please specify for Acute Care Staff. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home & Crematorium, Tammy Smart – Director, Shellbrook, SK. 306-747-2828.

 

 

• Date : 2021-04-26
• Location : Shellbrook, SK.