Peter D. Harder

Peter D. Harder

January 2, 1925 – December 21, 2023

Peter was born January 2, 1925 and raised on a family farm west of Hepburn, Saskatchewan. His parents, John and Helen Harder also had eight other sons and three other daughters. Pete found the love of his life, Mary Pilatus, just a few miles north of his home where she grew up. They were married October 20, 1947. Right after that, Pete started on a path to build his career. His first venture  was to run a coffee shop in Hepburn. Shortly after that, they moved to Saskatoon to increase his earning capacity to pay for necessities of life for his growing family. Initially he started working two jobs delivering coal during the day, and operating a taxi at night. Shortly after that he saw his opportunity in construction and quickly earned his journeyman carpenter certificate. His employers recognized his drive and enthusiasm, and promoted him to foreman. This motivated him to advance his education by taking a University of Pennsylvania correspondence course in construction. At that point he settled into a long career with the H.J. Tubby and Sons Construction Co. He graduated from foreman to project superintendent, and then to the upper management ranks of the company where he spent the entire remainder of his 35-year construction career. 

When Pete and Mary vacationed they spent many winters traveling to Texas with their motorhome as well as flying to Mexico, Hawaii and other warm winter destinations. During the summers he worked on their Emma lake cabin. At one point this involved transforming an old 600 square foot cabin into a two-story 1400 square-foot cottage. Building this cottage with his family was his labor of love.

Peter is predeceased by this wife, Mary; his daughter, Carol Hall; his granddaughter Tessa Harder; great-grandson Wyatt Adrian; his parents, John and Helen Harder; his brothers, Carl, Fred, Ed, John, Jake, Ruben, and Harry; his sisters, Mary Stobbe and Sarah Wenland. 

He is survived by his sister Helen Harder; brother Abe Harder; children: Judy Koutecky (Danny), Connie Adrian (Warren), Brian Harder (Yvette), Jerry Harder; grandchildren: Robin Koutecky, Jeff Adrian (Crystal), Jamie Harder, Ross Harder, Tara Kovacs (Johnny), Jaclyn Harder; great-grandchildren: Shelby Adrian, Logan Harder, Bobby Cameron, Bradley Cameron, Jordyn Jones and Nikhaya Cover. 

Peter was just a few days short of 99 years before he bid his final farewell.  We will miss him.  At the same time he lived a long, full life. One of his sayings was, “The only way to keep on moving, is to keep on moving.” He did just that. He loved his family and was close to them but simultaneously remained independent; he persistently lived completely on his own until just a couple of weeks ago. Every day he would delight in driving to breakfast with his brother and buddy Abe, to enjoy coffee and a bacon-egg-cheeser as he called it.  During his recent, short stay in the hospital he did not suffer; he peacefully slipped away in his sleep. 

That’s a lot to be thankful for. 

Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.