Harold George Spracklin, May 21, 1940 - February 29, 2016. It is with great sadness the family of Harold Spracklin of Yorkton announce his untimely passing on Monday, February 29, 2016. Loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather as well as proud Newfoundlander, Harold was born May 21, 1940 at St. John's, NL. Harold was united in marriage on June 21, 1965 to Rose Marie Billard and celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2015. He was the proud father of Richard (Chris), Linda (Vaughn), Rhonda (Keith) and Jeffrey (Josephine), prouder Grandfather to Jessica (Trevor), Michael, Colby, Steven, Cassidy and Jayda and prouder yet Great-grandfather to Naomi and Hailey. Harold was a lover of all things maritime, amateur historian, armchair politician, master story teller (some of them true!), avid reader, fisherman, hunter, boatman, carpenter, mechanic, workshop master, collector of odds and ends, lover of fine suits and coffee row aficionado. Family meant everything to Harold and he was never happier than when he was with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. He looked forward to Holidays and family visits and revelled at seeing the World through the eyes of younger ones and living the World through the exploits of the older ones. Perhaps his greatest personal tragedy was losing his daughter, Rhonda to cancer in 2013. Harold was predeceased by his parents, Magistrate Aleck and Edith Spracklin and brothers, Edgar, Robert and S/Sgt Lloyd Spracklin. Harold is also survived by his brothers, Cyril and Doug and sisters, Beth Houghton and Rev. Bernice Spracklin as well as numerous nieces and nephews. While Harold's passing was unexpected, he had become reminiscent in recent months and was particularly retrospective about the time he spent as a young man hunting and fishing in Newfoundland. Harold loved fly fishing, moose, caribou and partridge hunting and spent many enjoyable hours wading the streams near our family cabin in search of just one more trout. He found an online video a few weeks ago showing partridge hunters accompanied by English Setters at a favourite hunting spot in the Long Range Mountains of Western Newfoundland. He commented that he would like to visit there one more time before he passed. We are sure that Harold stopped by there on Monday. A Visitation for Family and Friends was held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK. The Funeral Service was held on Friday, March 4, 2016 from St. Andrew's United Church in Yorkton, SK with Reverend Jen Dresser officiating. The organist, Shani Apland, played "Ode to Newfoundland" as a processional piece. Mrs. Apland and members of St. Andrew's United Church led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "In The Garden" and "Will Your Anchor Hold" as well as the recessional, "Amazing Grace". The soloist, Don Battiste sang "No More Night". The Interment Service followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Richard Spracklin, Jeffrey Spracklin, Michael Spracklin, Steven Spracklin, Vaughn Cross and Colby Cross serving as the casket bearers. The honourary pall bearers were Jessica and Trevor Fehr, Cassidy Cross, Jayda Spracklin, Keith Alary, Doug Spracklin and Cyril Spracklin. If friends so desire, donations can be made to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation in Harold's memory. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, SK.
