Harold Harry Walker, age 84, passed away on December 9, 2021, at the Nicol Home in Glasco
He was born February 6, 1937, in rural Cloud County to Glen and Sophia (Babe)Gunter Walker.
The house that he was born in is the same house that he lived in until he fell and broke his hip June 19, 2020. He then moved into the nursing home. He had always said that he wanted to die in the same house he was born in, unfortunately he was unable to do so.
He attended grade school at the Carmel School House, two miles north of his house. He rode his horse, Spot, to school and then told the horse to go home. Which it did!! Then his mom would send the horse back to get him after school. He always had a special way with horses. He was active in 4-H and enjoyed showing his champion sheep. He attended Miltonvale Rural High School and graduated in 1955. After high school he worked for Chevrolet dealerships in Clay Center and Great Bend.
In 1957 he met the love of his life on a blind date. He married Patricia Ruth Christian on May 10, 1959. This year they celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary with their granddaughter, Crystal and husband Joe who shared the same anniversary date.
Harold's dad passed away in February before he and Pat were married. They took over the farming operation and made their home on the family farm in Colfax township. They were blessed with 3 children, Jeanine Christine, Harold Wayne, and Stanley Lynn. Harold taught his children the values of hard work and farm family life. Together they worked the land raising wheat, milo, and soybeans. Over the years there were several hundred head of sheep, cattle, and pigs to take care of also. Many long hot days of summer were spent putting up small bales of hay, where you could hear him say "Off your butt and on your feet, out of the shade and in the heat". Don't know who was more excited when New Holland came out with a big round baler, Harold, or the boys. Harold was one of the first farmers in the area to own one. He then went into custom hay business. He soon discovered that he needed a way to move the bales and a big feeder to feed them in, so he went to the drawing board and designed a bale spear and bale feeder. Soon he was making and selling them to everyone that he had baled hay for.
In addition to all the farm work, he and his cousin, Leland sheared sheep all over the country during the time that they raised sheep. He broke and trained horses for several area ranchers. Then in the 70's, when the farming economy went crazy, Harold went to work welding at night at GT and Hutch in Clay Center.
Harold enjoyed spending time with his kids teaching them to ride horses. He always reminded them if you fall off get right back on and ride and always hang on to the reins, unless Flicka is dragging you. They had fun going to horse shows and trail rides with the Miltonvale Saddle Club.
Harold was a big kid at heart. He once built a minibike for the kids and put the motor off the hay elevator on it. How no one got hurt on it is still a mystery. A short time later he came home with 2 motorcycles. Which didn't really work well with 3 kids. He found another one for Jeanine and soon they were all having limited fun. He only allowed them 1 cup of gasoline at a time, that way they couldn't get very far away from home.
He also had fun teaching the kids to drive a stick shift. He would set a glass of water on the dash and the challenge was to get through all 4 gears and not spill any water. One night they went thru a whole tank of gas in the truck only going around and around the section.
There wasn't anything that he couldn't do or fix, he was a plumber, an electrician, a mechanic, and an inventor. He was always designing and building things to simplify work on the farm.
He'd say, "Don't be lazy, just find an easier way to get things done". He built a propane heater for the branding irons and a hydraulic lift to get on and off the tractor just to name a couple. You could call him on the phone, and he could tell you step by step how to fix anything. Too bad we didn't take the time to write it all down.
Pat worked beside him on the farm, although not for sure that she forgave him for buying her the 856 International tractor for her birthday one year. She got even when he sent her to the sale barn to buy cattle and she came home with 2 trailers full of heifers. Later, he thought that she needed something to do while he was working nights in Clay, so he bought her 100 head of bred ewes. She spent countless hours in the barn with them and ended up with a 125% lamb crop that winter. But by spring she'd had enough and told him to sell them She was going back to school to become a nurse.
Harold and Pat had a good life together on the farm and instilled great values in their children. For example, how early to get home to get to clean the chicken house or to build fence.
Harold loved to hunt and target shoot. Back before Blue Rock, Harold built a contraption that would sling tin cans and he and the boys would shoot for hours. He always looked forward to opening day of hunting season when several family members would come and go hunting with him.
The grandkids brought him even more joy. He enjoyed having them spend time and helping around the farm. One summer he even went out and bought more horses so all the kids would have a horse to ride with him. Later that summer he decided to take the kids on vacation to Wyoming. It was a once in lifetime experience that they will never forget. When his great granddaughters got a horse, he was so proud to teach them how to ride and care for it. The kids all loved going to the farm and riding with grandpa in the combine during harvest. They also had fun playing dominoes with him.
Harold belonged to the Masons for over 60 years and was also active in OES. He served on the Colfax township board for several years. He enjoyed flipping quarters, swapping stories, and drinking coffee with his friends.
Harold was an ornery character and always said what was on his mind. He loved to embarrass people..... We won't mention any names. to protect the guilty!!!!
Harold accepted the Lord and was baptized on December 23, 1945 and was a member of the Miltonvale United Methodist Church. Last year as his health was failing, he assured his family, "It's OK, I know where I am going." We find great comfort that he is with our Savior, and we will all be together again someday.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Patricia of the home, Jeanine and Robert Bacon of Council Grove, Harold Wayne and Tasha of Delphos and Stan and Jolene of Clay Center. 12 Grandchildren and 13 Great Grandchildren, his faithful companion, Sport, numerous family members and countless friends.
Harold was a loving husband, father, and grandpa. A good neighbor and loyal friend and willing to lend a helping hand whenever and wherever needed. His smile and contagious laughter will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
Visitation will be Friday, December 17, 2021, at Phelps Funeral Home in Miltonvale from 5 - 7 p.m.
There will be coffee and rolls at the Kountry Kafe from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021, in his honor.