Page 3 – Funeral Home Salmon Arm

Stripling, Harry Otto

June 6, 1929 – August 11, 2024
at the age of 95 years:

Funeral Service will be held August 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Fischer’s Funeral Home

Harry Otto Stripling went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 11, 2024. His life began in Lisky, Ukraine, youngest son to Otto & Melita Stripling the 6th day of June 1929. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Arnold, Walter, Rita and Ingrid. After immigrating to Canada Harry married the love of his life Inez Eslinger in Calgary February 14, 1952. He was 21 when he and his brother Walter came from Germany by ship. Harry was predeceased by Inez in October of 2021 and his youngest son Donald in May 2024.

When Dad was the tender age of 6 his father was taken by the Russian Army, placed in prison and died a short time later. His mother was left to survive on her own and support the children. Dad’s schooling in the Ukraine ended at grade 6. He was an amazing determined young man who spoke Ukrainian, Polish and German. He learned English after moving to Canada, albeit most of it written phonetically.

At the age of 15 Dad apprenticed as a Baker in Germany. He worked hard to make a living for himself and loved the outdoors. Often if he had time, he and friends would hike the mountains to ski down the next day. Snow skiing was the sport he loved and enjoyed throughout his life. He and Inez shared this sport with their family for many years.

Dad worked hard all his life despite setbacks and hardships he never gave up. His leg was badly crushed in an oil rig accident which led to many surgeries. This was the fate that brought him together with Inez when he moved to Calgary for therapy and attended Bridgeland Baptist Church. He worked for the National Bakery. He quickly picked up carpentry skills from his father-in-law and soon after marrying Inez they built their first home in Calgary. Shortly after they moved to Terrace BC to look after his mother who had a major stroke. He worked in a bakery together there with Inez’s cousin Irwin Eslinger. Two years later they were back in Calgary. In 1959 Inez, Harry, Carol and Randolph packed up the house and made the trek across the Big Bend Highway to their new home in Salmon Arm, BC. The Salmon Arm Bakery was located on Front Street and was a welcome business to residents selling European breads like sourdough rye and his special pumpernickel. Business did well and Harry once again built the family a new home, a stones throw from the Salmon Arm Hospital. As the bakery business was expanding it was time for a new building on Hudson Street with family quarters right above and painted his favorite color melon green. Dad partnered with their special friends Paul & Marie, and together built a cabin for both families to enjoy Shuswap living. Many water skiing, tree swinging, rook games and campfire memories were created there.

Dad exchanged his bakery apron for a hammer and ventured into building several homes in Salmon Arm. The most memorable location ended up on the water in Canoe where he could run his old tractor and enjoy his gardening skills. Dad loved all kinds of activities, fishing, water skiing, and his motorcycle. His real passion was snow skiing and shushing down the slopes in his slalom style. He discovered a love for snowbird traveling spending winters in their motor home down south with many many friends they met and made over the years.

Dad was a valued member of the Gideons for over 40 years. He enjoyed serving in this ministry delivering Bibles to schools, hotels and motels throughout the Shuswap.

In a 2018 incident dad ended up in hospital with a broken body part. It prompted the move from their home in Raven’s subdivision. Time to downsize to independent living at Piccadilly Terrace, across from Canadian Tire where dad became a regular in his red Shopride scooter. A power wheelchair mishap put him back in hospital with another broken bone and this time the move was to Mount Ida Mews long term care home. Shortly after he moved their mom joined him as her health was failing and in their true love style were able to live together again. It was quite an adventure loading both wheelchairs in Handy Dart to do a little shopping and lunch together. A stroke in 2020 didn’t make it as easy for Dad to get around but he never gave up hope or his desire for living life the best it could be lived. He enjoyed weekly outings with his girls, Carol #1 and Carol #2.

At 95 years of age dad’s health quickly declined after losing his youngest son and his zest for life faltered. When he could no longer enjoy his salsa, pickles, chips and pops the tides turned and the writing was on the wall that he was headed heaven bound soon.

We rejoice in knowing that all suffering and pain is gone, and dad is resting in the arms of his heavenly father along with all those who have gone before him.