Wharnsby, Howard Donald
1936 - 2022
Dear friends and neighbours of Howard “Howie” Wharnsby ~ with heavy hearts, Howie’s family share the news of his passing on May 26, 2022, at the age of 86. Howie is pre-deceased by his wife of 53 years Mary (nee Murray), his parents Harry and Clara (nee Lisewski), his siblings Shirley, Ken and Carol Decker (Bill) and his nephew Kym Decker.
The humour and wisdom Howie taught will be passed along by his three children Diane Brown (Kevin Fisher), Dawn & Dawud (Ayesha Nawaz), his seven grandchildren Christine Shea (Scott), Robbie, Sarah & Jason Brown, Maryam & Safiya Wharnsby, Imran Al-Bakh’kam and his great-granddaughter Alina Shea. Howie is also survived by his nephew Dale Decker and numerous cousins.
Howie was born in Kitchener May 20, 1936, grew up in the downtown core and knew each street like the back of his hand. Every curb and corner held a memory for him. As a boy he delivered the KW Record and was a devoted altar-server at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. As a youth, he enjoyed “hoober-hackin’” with his friends, often ditching classes at St Jerome’s High to embark upon independent study adventures ~ one teacher deeming him “Dean of Absence” in the school yearbook. Though he had little interest in classroom lessons, Howie was a hard worker and devoted student of the School of Life. His punctuality, commitment, work-ethic, integrity, fairness and interpersonal skills were respected by all who knew and worked with him. He was a valued stock and delivery boy at Faber’s Grocery as a lad before apprenticing at Super Motor/Robert’s Electric during his mid-teens.
In his early twenties, Howie worked for several years with Brinks Canada, then began a 30 year career with the Kitchener Fire Department, which he carried out with great honour, devotion and pride. From time to time Howie moonlighted with various moving companies and RV retailers, generating additional income and new friendships along the way. Howie and the love of his life, Mary, met in their teens while roller skating at the Kitchener Aud and married in 1959 ~ her name tattooed on his arm and always upon his lips until his passing.
As a son, brother, husband and father, Howie went out of his way to love, encourage and support his entire family with every ounce of who he was. He was a man of joy ~ notorious for his friendliness and first-name basis relationships with everyone ~ mechanics, grocery and hardware store clerks, bank tellers, letter carriers, waiters and waitresses. “Hi Howie!” rang out in his direction almost everywhere he went and many cars that passed his house extended a warm wave out the window for him, reciprocated with an enthusiastic wave back.
As a hobbyist, Howie was a talented, self-taught woodworker, dabbled in jewelry and goldsmithing and was the consummate tinkerer. Throughout his life he was also a collector of coins, cars and antiques of all sorts. A member of the Rod and Gun Club since youth, it spurred his involvement with Southern Ontario’s community of classic gun collectors ~ treasuring the many friendships in those circles even more than his collectibles. A lover of life’s simple pleasures ~ Howie would never turn down cheeseburgers, milkshakes, cabbage rolls, homemade chicken noodle soup or an opportunity to watch 'old westerns' (especially John Wayne or Clint Eastwood). He carried music and merriment wherever he went. The quintessential “Happy Wanderer”, Howie whistled while he walked, jingled pocket-change while he waited in lines, hummed while he ate and even sang in his sleep! He was a man of steady, simple faith who honoured, respected and supported his many friends and family members of diverse spiritual paths.
Howie’s family wish to thank the countless friends and neighbours who enriched his life over the years ~ calling, checking in on him, dropping off food and shoveling his snow. Thank you also to the numerous nurses, doctors and pharmacists who saw to his care, especially over the last year: staff at New Vision Health Centre, Zehrs Wadland Pharmacy, Waterloo Foot Clinic, ParaMed, Life-Labs, Cardio Pulmonary Services, Guelph General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and St Mary’s Hospital.
Howie's family will receive relatives and friends from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St. Kitchener. Funeral Service in the Chapel on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Those unable to attend may view Howie's service on Wednesday via the following live stream link:
https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming . Interment at Parkview Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Diabetes Canada or St Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation (Guelph), would be appreciated (cards available at the funeral home).
Visit www.henrywalser.com to view Howie's memorial.