Herluf (Harvey) passed away peacefully at his home in Caledon, on Sunday, October 15, 2023 with his wife Susan of 35 years and his daughter Kristine by his side. Herluf leaves behind his wife Susan Rasmussen, daughters Kristine Rasmussen (Stuart Snyder) Chesley Ontario, Lisa (Michael) Ekelid and grandson Alexander Ekelid of Denmark. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews and their children both here in Canada and Denmark as he always took an active part in spending time with the next generation, they kept him young at heart.
The youngest of 11, he immigrated to Canada in 1958 at the age of 20 and was proud to call Canada home. Herluf spent his life farming. Starting out as a herdsman, then working for Connaught Labs before starting his own dairy herd. He then went on to own and operate HR Trucking, supplying wood shavings across Ontario. Harvey really was an icon in this area. He was everyone’s guy, he knew everybody. Stubborn as an ox at times, but such a wonderful man. He was a “Doer”, if you had a project that needed to get done he was an “All hands on deck until it was finished”, rounding up resources and persons to help until it got done. Right up until the last few days of his life, he had a list and he would muster the strength to supervise that it got done correctly and how he wanted it done. Herluf hated funerals and did not want one. He always said “You visit people when they are alive, their funeral is too late”.
Respecting his wishes, family and friends have spent the last few weeks calling or visiting him, reminiscing over good times and adventures and sometimes being assigned a task. Interment will take place at a later date with family present.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Headwaters Hospital or better yet, you share a story about Herluf with them.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Jean Farndon
Susan, I am so sorry to hear of Harvey’s passing. Many hours were spent Sunday mornings either at the farm or Tim’s just chatting. May he rest in peace.
Jean Farndon and family
Nancy Coulter
Susan, Kristine and Lisa. My sincere condolences to you on the passing of Harvey. I have very fond memories of many years ago when Harvey bought my father’s dairy herd. The purchase was done with a handshake. Harvey became very good friends with both my parents, my sister and I. Many visits to the farm. Always a smile. Rest in peace Harvey.
Anne McMahon
Will miss Harvey’s drop in visits. So glad he saw Viky and Kaja a couple of months ago. Rest easy Harvey, you will be missed.
Bonnie Hall
I am so sorry for your loss! I first meet Mr. Rasmussen when I was just 5 and remember him as a very strong loving father to my good friend Kristine! I know the close relationship that Kris and her dad had developed and how much she miss him.
Lillian Watterworth
Kristine and Stuart, our thoughts are with you and your family.
Paul & Lillian Watterworth
Ida Saini
Dear Susan, Kristine and Family, So sorry for your loss. Herluf (Harvey) has been part of our family since childhood with so many happy memories throughout the years. We enjoyed his visits and good sense of humor. We are so grateful for his life and honor his memory. Love and blessings from us all.
Ida, Jasbir and Family.
Karen Cybulski
Dear Sue and family:
Deepest condolences on your loss. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Karen and Andy
Nancy Kirk
Kristine and Stuart
Thinking of you and your family at this sad time. Our deepest condolences.
Nancy and Bill
HEATHER EVANS
Sue:
Deepest condolences on your loss. We are thinking of you at this difficult time.
Heather & Derek
Bev Nicolson
Dear Susan and family, I am saddened to hear of your loss. May you draw strength from the support of family and friends , and the many fond memories you have to share. Deepest condolences. Bev and Ross
Leora Conway
Dear Susan and family and many friends, I am so sorry for your loss.
Carmen Cotter
Sue, I am so to hear that Harvey has passed away. I was lucky enough to have seen him not long ago on your front porch for a brief hug and a chat.
He was always so nice to Courtney and I.
He will be missed.
Love
Carmen
Arlene
Dear Sue and Family
So sorry to hear about Harvey. He was such a great guy. I’ll especially treasure fond memories of our travels in Africa.
Jordan Slatt
Dear Sue and Family, Harvey’s smile was an invitation to spend time with him. He was a warm hearted, lovely man. We will miss him. Jordan and Alexis Slatt
Isabel Bassett
I have known Harvey and Susan for many, many years. Harvey loved to chat and update us on the neighbourhood.
He was in awe of Susan’s horsemanship and her great care of so many horses. With all of his other accomplishments, I didn’t expect him to be a rider as well, so I was surprised one day when he joined Susan and I on a long, fast canter.
Harvey will be sorely missed by all our family.
Our Deepest Condolences,
Isabel Bassett and Family
Greg Unger
Harvey was my first boss, the dairy farmer down the road. Although in his early 30’s at the time, me in my mid-teens, he epitomized the rugged, “get ‘er done” attitude needed to run a farm. He could drive anything, fix everything and work all day and much of the evening too—around milking a barn full of cows twice that day.
He taught me how to stuke hay, drive a standard, and throw a 70 lb bale of hay farther than anyone I’ve seen using momentum, style and strength. It didn’t travel too far in the air, but his technique was the long roll, coming to rest far beyond the bales of all challengers!
Thankfully there are no more dusty stukers, 8-layer haywagon loads dodging groundhog holes, haymows to to stack up to the barn peak. But the lessons learned during those hot summers, come to mind when facing other challenges in life.
He represents a time when a pat on the back was implied, a punch in the shoulder was a compliment, and a paycheck was confirmation it was all real.
I tip my hat to the Dutchman, a friend to our family, and a friend to me.
Greg Unger, Caledon East
Christine Gracey
Dear Sue,
So very sorry to hear about the loss of Harvey. My condolences to you and all the family.
Wendy Brett
Dear Susan,
I am so very sorry to hear about Harve’s passing. Jeff and I wish to pass on our sincere condolences, and we are thinking about you in this difficult time,
Wendy Brett and Jeff Wilson
Maggie Ker
Dear Sue and family
I’m so sorry to hear that Harvey has died.
My deepest condolences to you and your family at this very sorrowful time.
Heather Gray
I am so sad to hear of Harvey’s passing. But so honored to have been able to call Harvey a friend. I knew Harvey most of my adult life and spent endless hours doing any and every job that was required on a horse farm with him. I enjoyed Harvey’s company from long truck rides to get the best cheese to riding shot gun on the tractor delivering round bales to the horses in the fields. Harvey was a kind man that was willing to help anyone. Amongst other things he spent hours helping me find a tractor many years ago, I still have that tractor today and think of him often when I am on it. I think of Harvey when I load my barn with hay, although nothing at all like the thousands of bales and the fun we once had putting in the hay loft, but a great memory. Many things remind me of Harvey and bring me a smile and I am so thankful for all the years of memories. I am most grateful that I recently was able to give Harvey a big hug, sadly not knowing that it would be the last one. RIP Harvey you will be missed Heather&Terry
Mary Matson
Harvey was a welcome visitor at Chesslawn Farm! My parents and more recently my mom always loved his visits! He was always full of energy! He had a gift for being loyal to old friends! Sending my deepest sympathy to the family.
Mary
Fay Jensen
We are so sorry to hear of Harvey’s passing. You have our deepest sympathies.
Fay and Walter Jensen
Carolyn Lane
Dear Sue,
Sending you my sincere condolences at this very difficult time.
Carolyn Lane
Rosa and gail
Hello Susan,
Rosa and I (Gail) are very sorry to hear of the passing of Harvey.
TREVOR E RICHARDSON
Harvey lived just down the road from my home on the 3rd Line of Albion. I used to help him do the haying on his farm and Helen Howards farm just up the road.
He was a great guy and had you working hard milking cows throwning hay bales but he always thanked you for the help and the meals were great.
He will be sorrily missed.
Kathy Clarkson
Albert and Kathy
Condolences to the family
We enjoyed having coffee Sunday mornings with Harvey
Rest in peace
God Bless
KEVIN P MOODY
To HARVEY’S Family Sorry for your loss. Know Harvey in the nide 1990 .I worked for Brites in the Hogroom and help Harvey and his other driver trap the sawdust trailer.
Scott & Ian Davidson
We were deeply saddened to learn of Harvey’s passing. It feels like just yesterday that I sat on the porch with Harvey, sharing news, stories, and memories. The rain was falling, the picturesque Caledon trees and paddocks were the backdrop, and Harvey spoke so fondly of the farm and the immense joy it brought him.
Ian and I have been reminiscing about our cherished memories of Harvey. From the childhood days of finding shavings along the dirt roads that had fallen off his trucks, to the unforgettable adventures of “the three amigos” he shared with John Lee and our Dad. Harvey’s kindness and unwavering support for so many in the community, including our Mum, will always remain in our memories. Harvey was an exceptionally generous soul, genuinely interested in the lives of those around him. We will forever treasure his large and lively personality.
We will undoubtedly miss him, but his memory will never fade.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Scott and Ian
Mary Ray
I am so glad that I saw Harvey a short time ago and had a super hug from him! His lovely humour and kindness will be missed by many.
Love,
Mary
Doug & Sandy Nicholson
Our deepest sympathy and condolences to Susan and family of Harvey, a wonderful man! We had the privilege of being friends and neighbors of Harvey for 20+ years. There was not anything that Harvey would not do to assist us and many a winter morning the sound of his tractor blowing snow off our driveway made our day!!
We will miss his afternoon visits to share a cup of coffee and catch up on local news.
Rest in peace my good friend, the world is a sorrier place.
David Dorward
Diana and I were saddened to hear of Harvey’s passing. I vividly remember Harvey helping me transport an old couch of ours to Stratford, Ontario for donation to the Stratford Festival. Harvey made a long and boring journey entertaining but more than that it represented the kind of person Harvey was, kind and generous. He will be missed.
David Dorward
Diana Janosik-Wronski
Nicole Willie Yule
I am so sad to hear of Harvey’s passing. I often think about my days at the farm, the trucks starting early. They were my alarm clock. Harvey always had a kind word, and helped out where he could. Generous heart and soul. I am so glad I was able to see him and Susan last year. Rest easy Harvey. You will be missed
Jeremy Devereux and Stephanie Wood
We are very sad and sorry to learn of Harvey’s death, and send our deepest condolences to his family.
Harvey was a great friend and neighbour to us over the years. His knowledge, support, good humour, and kindness were important and much valued aspects of our Caledon days. We treasured his visits and chatting with him about jobs to be done, the neighbourhood, and life in general. We will miss him very much.
Jeremy Devereux, Stephanie Wood, and Ned Devereux