WARDER FRANKLIN JOHN ORCHARD

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WARDER FRANKLIN JOHN ORCHARD Warder, Pop, Dad, Grampa, Great-Grampa, died peacefully in his sleep December 16, 2017 in his 101 year. He lived in his Miami home until his admission to Carman Hospital on November 26. He was born October 2, 1916 in the Deerwood area west of Miami where he lived his life farming until 80 while pursuing many lifelong interests. Early in his farming career, hard work was central as Warder cleared many acres of his land by hand with axe and grub hoe and later enjoyed the comfort of his John Deere. New ideas made his farm a success; from small stone dams to check erosion, early use of fertilizer and continuous cropping in the 1950s. The new crop rapeseed (canola), was his financial saviour. He was a seed grower who farmed well and farmed smart. Warder had a great sense of humour and when receiving his active farmer award at age 80, at the A and M Soil Service banquet, he literally brought down the house of over 500 attendees in his thank you remarks. Music, singing, and poetry were lifetime loves. He self-taught both piano and organ, played horn in the 1967 Centennial band, sang tenor in the Altamont quartet in the 1960s and for many years in the Miami United Church choir. Gifted with a great memory, he delivered many Masonic lectures. Robert Service poetry was a special love and he could recite line and verse of many. At his 101st birthday, he sang Danny Boy and recited Dangerous Dan McGrew and was still solving Sudoku puzzles. Warder, a crack shot, grew up hunting with family and friends to put meat on the table because Herefords were for income. Warder found and collected arrow heads and other aboriginal artifacts until in his 90s. His collection today can be found in the Miami Museum. He enjoyed years of winter vacations with Marge and summer gardening, supplying many with fresh produce. Warder had many friends in farming, Masonry, music, collecting artifacts, and playing pool at the senior center. Warder leaves to mourn his daughter, Gail Snider (Richard), son, Donald Orchard (Janie), grandchildren, Tanya Tichon (Wayne), Geoffrey Snider (Alicia), Teresa Link (Mike), Eric Orchard, Arlene Orchard and Onalee Orchard (Steve Arnott), and 10 great-grandchildren, and his sister Nora McConnell. He was predeceased by his first wife, Muriel (King) in 1975 and by his second wife Marge (Nordquist) in 2010, his brother Edward and sisters, Wilma, Amy, Alma, and Rose. A long life well lived. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. at the Miami Community Centre, December 22, 2017. Doyle's Funeral Home in care of arrangements. www.doylesfuneralhome.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 20, 2017