Obituary for Harold Christian Reesor

Life Story for Harold Christian Reesor

Harold Christian Reesor was born November 11, 1930 to Carl W Reesor & Annie Wideman, in Markham, Ontario. The 6th of 10 children, he grew up on the family farm and developed a life-long love and respect for the land, hard work, and community. After farming with his family for some years, Harold left home to study at Ontario Mennonite Bible College. It was there that he met and fell in love with Pauline Fern Short. They were married in Ohio in September 1955 and moved to Joliette, Quebec with Mennonite Board of Missions, to launch a Mennonite presence in a predominantly Catholic setting. Over the next 25 years, Harold and Pauline raised their 7 children, (Marc, Rachel, Carole, Christine, Paul, Annette & Philip) in Mascouche, Quebec, worked with Tilman Martin and his family to found the House of Friendship in Montreal, and farmed. Their hearts were broken when Pauline became ill and died of cancer on April 6,1980. In 1982 Harold married Alice Mae Deckert, who left the prairies of Saskatchewan to settle with Harold on the farm in Mascouche. Harold and Alice enjoyed the farm and the House of Friendship for another 15 years until they moved to Stouffville in 1997. Sadly, two years later, Alice died suddenly of cancer. In 2001, Harold reached out to Stella Virginia Witmer Reesor, the widow of his brother Elmer. Their whirlwind romance led to a wedding in December 2001, which grew the family, and number of grandchildren, who enriched their lives. They lived together happily for 15 years, even as Harold's health began to fail in the past few. Stella and members of the families were by his side as he died. Harold Reesor made an impression on all who were lucky to know him. A large and serious man, he commanded attention and gravity in his roles as minister and community leader. He was also attentive and loving to his large extended family, and was blessed with a wry sense of humour. Harold delighted in his many grandchildren, telling them tales of childhood mischief and stories that usually ended with a deep, infectious belly laugh, and shoulder shake. Harold was preceded by siblings Cecil, Marion, Elmer and survived by John, Marie, Nancy, Evelyn, Ken & Kathryn, dozens of nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great grandchildren.