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Darrel Harder
March 28, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">Darrel Bryce Harder, 61, of Delta (Ladner) British Columbia, died shortly before 11 PM at Richmond Hospital on Monday, March 28, 2016, after a brief battle with a severe stroke. <br> <br>Darrel was born on November 6, 1954 in Coaldale, Alberta to Peter and Joyce Harder. After living in many locations in Alberta, Darrel moved to British Columbia where he met his wife Fran. Darrel and Fran were married on July 8, 1989 after a 7 year engagement. Over almost 35 years, they enjoyed travelling, gardening, their morning ‘coffee chats’ and more recently, playing with their dog Kipawa. <br> <br>Darrel had been an employee at Best Facilities Service Limited (now Best Service Pros), Vancouver, for many years in the building restoration/window cleaning division. Under the leadership of Klaus Wiesel, Darrel was the foreman for a job he felt most proud of, the outdoor restoration of the old Vancouver Hotel, now the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. During his years at Best, he enjoyed working with his colleagues, particularly great friend Marc Wiesel, Gert Venema, and buddy Mark Shields, whom he held very special thoughts for. <br> <br>Always active, Darrel enjoyed hiking and bike riding, and he decided just before the age of 50 that he was going to try to compete in a triathlon. Unfortunately, while on his bike May 24, 2004 he was hit by a car and he became a quadriplegic. This did not stop Darrel. He became interested in giving back, and decided to become a peer associate with Spinal Cord Injury – British Columbia. He held a monthly coffee group in Richmond and enjoyed many activities that SCI-BC sponsored. <br> <br>Darrel is survived by his forever loving wife Fran. He is also survived by his mother Joyce, son Dustin, daughter Kimberley Lehay (Nathan), brothers and sisters Brenda, Deborah, Grant (Kim), Melodee (Mike), Peter, Rosanne (Ted) and Steven, grandchildren Kieran and Lawson and his forever special brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lyle and Rose McClelland. Darrel was part of a very large family and is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Darrel’s father Peter ‘Slim’ Harder preceded him in death. <br> <br>Darrel loved all of his family, but he will never forget his brother Grant, who would fly to Vancouver and pick him up for summer road trip adventures. Their time together filled him with happiness and laughter. They enjoyed many miles driving and listening to their favorite bands, such as Rush and AC/DC - they both were lovers of 80s rock. <br> <br>Forever in his heart will be his closest friend Walter Gagen (Kathy), who spent many enjoyable lunches with Darrel sitting in Walter’s ‘quad sauna’, where they both enjoyed the heat. He will also miss Marc Wiesel, who did not lose touch with him after his accident and continued to visit him and help out. He will be smiling down at his neighbours in the cul-de-sac, whom he enjoyed seeing on the street and talking to. Darrel would make friends easily wherever he traveled in life, and to those friends, he offers his little crooked smile and wrinkled eyes and a ‘thumbs up’ for sharing good times with him. <br> <br>Darrel had a special love for Rose and Lyle McClelland, his sister in law and brother in law. They were always there for any request he or his wife Fran had. He enjoyed watching Rose and Fran planting flowers in the garden and he also loved to hear about the shopping expeditions ‘the Van Schilt girls’ had together. Darrel sincerely appreciated the business expertise Lyle offered, in addition to his help with outdoor Christmas light decorating, a knack Rose and Lyle had developed over their years together. Living close by, they kept a special eye out for his wife Fran, and for this he was forever grateful. <br> <br>To Kevin and Therese Leimback – there is really nothing that can be said in words. You placed basenji Kipawa, his dog, into his life, providing him with laughter, joy and love. Darrel will miss the Basenji Summer Play Dates. He won’t be there in person, but he will be there. <br> <br>Thanks to all of the doctors and nurses in the Emergency and Palliative Care departments in Richmond Hospital, where it was made easy for Darrel to be as comfortable as possible and for his family to spend quality time with him before he passed away. A very special thank you to Richmond Hospital social worker Lynda for helping the family with their grieving. <br> <br>Thank you also to all of his long standing care aides and the staff at Paramed for offering him outstanding personal care. <br> <br>The warmest ‘thank yous’ to family physician Dr. Jason Kason and spinal cord specialist Dr. Andrej Krassioukov for the outstanding health care they offered him as a quadriplegic. <br> <br>Above all, thank you to his lawyer and friend David Hay and the staff at Richards, Buell and Sutton. In your hands, he felt and knew he had no worries. <br> <br>Darrel had asked to be cremated. He did not want a funeral, as he didn’t want people crying. Honoring his wishes, there will be a Celebration of Life for him at some point in the future. No flowers please. Darrel asked that people either give a little extra to any charity they supported or give their loved ones some extra hugs. <br> <br>Darrel would say, “How lucky I have been to have so much in life that makes saying good-bye so hard”. <br></div>