Harley Douglas Iler
1921-2021
ILER, Harley
Douglas
At Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto, Harley left this
world to join his Lord and his loved ones gone on before, on
May 1, 2021, at the age of 99 years. Grateful and loving husband of
Lorna Elizabeth Reeds (2015). Loving father of Brian (Mary Brock) of
Toronto, Maribeth (2010) (Larry Kaufer) of Washington D.C.,
Miriam Page (Richard 2009)) of Scarborough and Madelyn
of Kingston. Will be sadly missed by grandchildren: Kirsten,
Brendan, Andrew (Clancy Catelin), Laura (Jasper Chui), Alex, Fraser
(Kasia Gladki), Hilary (Ben Grant) and Bronwyn (Jay Wall), and great
grandchildren: Olive, River, Sasza, Ann, and one just arrived but as
yet unnamed. Also survived by his brother Earl (Betty (2014)) of
Harrow; Earl’s children: Greg (Beth Kinnard) and Susan (Bill
Litwin); Earl’s grandchildren: Emily (Kody Stomp), Cameron,
Nicole and Amanda, and great-grandchild Oakley.
Harley saw life as a series of challenges to be faced and
overcome. After a childhood on the farm roaming the shores of
Lake Erie with his brother Earl and their Newfoundland dog, his
interest in electronics led him to Toronto where he trained to become
a maritime wireless operator. The shy country boy found the looming
buildings of the big city overwhelming at first. Nevertheless he went
on to join the Merchant Navy and became the radio operator on a Greek
merchant ship carrying steel rails to Glasgow during WWII. After
several narrow escapes on the North Atlantic, he arrived back home and
later enjoyed a more luxurious position as radio operator on a Great
Lakes passenger ship, the Hamonic. The remainder of the war found him
working as a technician in Toronto, designing radar equipment for the
armed forces.
His faith having been tested and proven on the North
Atlantic, Harley attended services every Sunday at Immanuel
Baptist Church, after which he would go out for lunch with some
friends he had made there. Occasionally the group was joined by a
pretty young lady, a cousin of theirs from Lindsay. The
friends moved on, but Lorna (for Lorna it was) and Harley kept up the
tradition. The rest, as they say, is history. Harley described getting
married to Lorna as a ‘mountain top’ experience. She was ‘a woman
whose quiet faith kept me climbing when life’s slopes became steep and
slippery’. They enjoyed 71 years together.
Although he never obtained a formal engineering degree, his
skills and experience ultimately led to positions as chief
engineer at Hammond Manufacturing in Guelph and Audio Transformer in
Waterloo, where he worked until he retired in 1983. He mentioned only
recently that 15 transformers designed by him were in the Avro
Arrow. If Harley’s work consisted of the design of
transformers, it could be said that his life was one of transformation
as well. He demonstrated an unusual capacity for change and growth,
especially in his later years. He was an active member of First
Baptist Church in Guelph for five decades; teaching Sunday School and
serving as a deacon. When the need to be closer to family brought
Harley and Lorna back to Toronto, they began attending Woodbine
Heights Baptist Church, where he was given a fresh, sometimes
challenging, perspective on faith. As always, he was open to the
challenge. When macular degeneration robbed him of sight, talking
books provided new horizons. He was an avid listener of
anything from light-hearted personal stories to major works of
theology. As he needed more help, he enjoyed meeting caregivers from
all over the world. Exposed now to such a variety of influences, his
world-view expanded and the warmth of his spirit shone through,
enhanced by his unique brand of humour. When his daughter commented on
the positive relationships he had with his caregivers at Sunnybrook,
he replied, ‘I love people’. He will be remembered for his
warm heart, his generosity of spirit and his great conversational
skills.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to all the
staff at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre for their excellent care
over the past four years. Dad did say that, maybe, the terror of that
trip across the German submarine-infested Atlantic was worth it to get
into Sunnybrook.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to
Woodbine Heights Baptist Church, 1171 Woodbine Avenue, East York, ON
N4C 4E1.
Arrangements entrusted to GILCHRIST
CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi
Street, Guelph, (519-824-0031). We
invite you to leave your memories and donations online at: www.gilchristchapel.com
and they will be forwarded to the family.
19212021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Harley Douglas Iler 19212021..
Décès pour la Ville:Guelph, Province: Ontario