Douglas John Harmer, age 87 of Stratford passed away peacefully with family by his side at the Stratford General Hospital on March 1, 2019. Born in Stratford, December 10, 1931, oldest son of deceased parents John R. (1964) and Olive (Harris 1948) Harmer. He is the devoted husband and friend to Dorothy (Wainwright). They were married in St. Paul’s Anglican Church in 1954. They are proud parents of Deb (Don) Moon, Dennise (Doug) Scheerer and Dave (Trudy) Harmer. Loving grandfather Jenn (Jay), Tara (Tommy), Ange, Melissa (Shawn), Adam (Carolina), Zach and Luke (Devynn). Also his great-grandchildren Cody and Drew, Alexis and Avery, Tyler, Noah and Liam, Kai and Annabelle. Besides his wife, Doug is survived by his sister Marion Harmer (Wingham), sisters-in-law Jessie Peterson (Stratford) and Hilda Wainwright (Fergus), brothers-in-law George Stott (Mabel), Stratford, Lawrence Wainwright (Fergus) and many nieces and nephews.
Doug was employed at Kroehler Manufacturing from 1947 to 1964; Stratford Police Constable 1965 to 1973; then back at Kroehler from 1973 to its closing. He then picked up odd jobs at Stackpole, Tom’s Gardening, Corner Café and City of Stratford as a spare Crossing Guard retiring in 2013. He was a dedicated member of St. Stephens Anglican Church, holding positions as Warden and Board of Management. He was a member (1972) of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 8, the Poppy Committee and was Secretary/Treasurer of the Stratford Area Woodworkers. Doug loved to quilt, cook and bake, making soup each month for the euchres at St. Stephen’s and the monthly luncheons and banquets at the Legion. He dedicated his time to doing scroll saw woodworking making such items as wall and mantle clocks, cedar chests, parlour tables, crosses and many table and gift favours for Christmas. His carrot cake was a must for all family functions.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister Marjorie in infancy, brothers Ken and Don Harmer,  sisters-in-law Lily Stott, Dorothy and Helen Harmer and brothers-in-law Pete Peterson and Lorne MacKenzie. Visitation at the W.G. Young Funeral Home, 430 Huron Street, Stratford on Monday, March 4, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. The Royal Canadian Legion will hold a service at 1:45 p.m. Funeral service will be held at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 133 Home Street, Stratford on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow. Inurnment at Avondale Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to St. Stephen’s Church Kitchen Fund or the Stratford Perth Rotary Hospice Foundation through the funeral home. 519.271.7411 www.wgyoungfuneralhome.com
