HARRY JESSE CORNELSON
Nov 13, 1932 – June 19, 2025
Harry Jesse Cornelson was born November 13, 1932 to Jacob and Justina Cornelson at Beaver Flat, Saskatchewan. He was the fourth child of nine. In 1939 the family moved to Gouldtown. Harry attended Roland School where he completed grade 8, and immediately started working for farmers such as Jahnke Ranch and Pete Friesen at Beechy.
At the young age of 16, or most likely earlier, his passion for rodeo began. Harry and his brothers Norman, Ernie, Jake, and Wes travelled to many rodeos together. Bull riding and Bare back riding were his events from 1948 – 1967.
Many will recall Elmgrove Rodeo near Gouldtown, which Norman, Jake, Wes, and Harry started. Harry not only judged the events at Elmgrove, but also judged the riding events at Hallonquist Rodeo for 20 years. In 1986, Elmgrove transitioned into the Herbert Stampede as we know it today. Harry was on the original Stampede Committee from 1986 – 2005. Harry pulled the gates at the Herbert Stampede during that time, and often mentioned how the bull riders thanked him for knowing ‘just the right timing” to do the job perfectly. Even though he was into his 70’s, and felt he was still capable, it was time to let someone younger take over the gate task.
In 1950, he worked with 60 guys on the “Extra Gang.” They raised the train track from Herbert to Chaplin using shovels and picks. They stayed in train cars at Morse. He smiled when he told the story of how a few of the cars got food poisoning but he was fortunate to not be one of them. He said “it was not pretty having that many sick at the same time without proper washrooms!”
Harry also worked for the PFRA. He supervised 6 men and together they built the small bridges going over the creeks. He said the most boring job was an 8 hour night shift at High Field Dam, making sure no one would open the gates causing the water to flood the guys that were working on the canals. He was very proud to be part of the crew who built the bridge at the Saskatchewan Landing in 1951 – 1952. On his way home from completing the bridge project, he stopped in at HF Kehler & Sons where Henry Kehler asked him “Do you need a job? Because you can start right now!” and so Harry stayed. Little did he know, that was the day he started working for his future father-in-law. Anyone who worked with Henry Kehler just moved into the Kehler family house, and that is where he met a pretty young lady named Leona.
In 1955, Harry and Leona married. They were baptised at the Herbert Mennonite Conference Church along with their friends. In 1958, they started building their house. When I say the word “they,” it means only Harry and Leona. The two of them, by themselves, built the house that they lived in at Main Centre. Harry did all the framing and construction, Leona did the interior jobs like gyprock and painting. Together they completed it enough that in 1958 when there first son Darcy was born, they had a room ready enough for Darcy to sleep in. The house was completed in 1959. Tragedy struck in 1961, when his father-in-law and boss Henry Kehler was killed in a car accident, so Harry bought the business and continued to run it. In 1966, Darla joined the family which completed their little family of four. In 1971, Harry built the Texaco in Herbert. They moved the house they built, from Main Centre to Brownlee Street here in town, where it still stands today.
Harry’s Texaco was a very reputable business, serving customers from all the surrounding areas. He enjoyed what he did, but loved meeting people through his business, and building so many friendships along the way. It was an iconic business in the community until he retired in 2003.
He volunteered serving the community by being on town council from 1972-1976, elected in with the most votes! Also coaching the Herbert Hawks in 1982 and 1983, along with his lifelong friend Alf Thiessen. Harry was very proud and happy to attend the Hawks reunion that they had last year.
Harry and Leona bought Darcy and Beth’s acreage at the east end of town, and made it into an oasis. It was the most beautiful yard in town. Harry called it “Herbert’s Bouchard Gardens.” They worked very hard making it so beautiful, but in reality, to them - it wasn’t work! They loved it and called it “playing outside,” and it was even more fun when the 4 grand-daughters were running around alongside of them.
In 2019, Harry lost Leona to a short but fierce battle of cancer. The acreage and house were just too big for him, so after a couple of years, he downsized and moved to the Sunrise Homes. At the age of 91, Harry moved to the Bentley in Swift Current where he was for one year and one month, until only 4 weeks ago when he moved back home to the Prairie Wind Estate. He absolutely loved being back in Herbert, but mostly loved being back with his friends who had moved into Prairie Wind while he was in Swift Current. Harry passed very suddenly doing what he loved to do, visiting and having coffee with his friends.
Harry was predeceased by his wife of 64 years Leona, his infant daughter Donica, and infant son Corey. He will be lovingly remembered by his son Darcy (Beth) Cornelson, and their daughters Amy Cornelson (Dan), and Amanda Cornelson (Ryan). His daughter Darla (LeRoy) Martens, and their daughters Jayda (Ethan) Symon, and Jori (Colten) Siemens. Because of his kind and friendly nature, and always a smile and a wave, he will be fondly remembered by many.
Anyone wanting to make donations in his honor can do so to Prairie Wind Estate in Herbert.
Arrangements entrusted to Warren’s Funeral Home. For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit the website www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.