Obituary of FORSTER – Harold

October 31, 1927 – March 26, 2011 Harold Forster of Calgary passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 26, 2011 with his family at his side at the age of 83 years. Harold was born on October 31, 1927 in Bassano, Alberta to Hugh and Joy Forster, proud ranchers in the Cessford area of Eastern Alberta. Harold was the youngest of three children, brother to Jack and Marjorie. As a youth, Harold was a keen student and very capable athlete; as a teen he became an excellent horseman. Harold went on to attend agricultural college in Olds, Alberta where he made friendships to last a lifetime. Upon graduation, he moved to Calgary and formed a company, “Renn Sales” with one of his college classmates, Merle Morstad. During his time at Renn, Harold invented a revolutionary front-end loader for farm tractors which he called the E-Z-ON loader; the sales of this loader were a significant part of the success of Renn. During this time in Calgary, Harold met and married (in 1955) Stefania (Stevie) Simanik, a beautiful young woman from Saskatchewan. Harold and Stevie had five children. After selling Renn, Harold continued with his inventing, and launched a series of successful entrepreneurial companies based upon the products he designed and built. Upon retirement Harold and Stevie moved to Penticton, BC where they often hosted family gatherings with their children and grandchildren. Stevie passed away in March 2006 and Harold moved back to Calgary. For the last several years he had been a resident of Bow Valley Lodge. Harold is survived by his sister Marjorie; brother Jack; children, Cathy, Hugh, Mona (Dane), Ridge, and Warren; and his grandchildren, Suzanne, Paul, Marc and Amy. Friends and relatives are invited to a memorial service at Riverbend Community Center (19 Rivervalley Drive S.E. Calgary) on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Harold Forster, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.