Clifford William Howse
Clifford William Howse died on April 9, 2004, surrounded by his loving family. He passed away peacefully at the age of 58 after a courageous and valiant battle with esophageal cancer.
He was best friend, loving and much loved husband of Karen (nee Switzer); beloved father of Kerry, Adam, Sara and Russell; brother of Hazel (Bill McLaughlin), Norma (Juergen Neudoerffer), Judy (the late Doug Ward) and Wendy (John Archibald); uncle to several nieces and nephews; and a cherished friend to the Switzer family as well as many others.
He was born in Fergus, Ontario to the late Clifford Howse and Maisie (nee Nicklin). He left the home farm to attend McMaster University, receiving his BSc in chemistry in 1968, then heading to the University of Guelph for an MSc in nutrition in 1970.
He took time out in September 1970 to marry Karen before joining the ARC Institute of Animal Physiology so that he could undertake his PhD studies at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, where Karen joined him in 1971.
In 1973 he came back to Canada and decided to return to farming, starting a small hog operation in the Niagara Peninsula. The family moved to the Winchester area in 1979, where he farmed in the former Mountain Township.
During his early years in North Dundas he was an active member of Dundas Federation of Agriculture, then he became more involved in the local hog producers association, eventually becoming a director of the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board, now Ontario Pork. During his time there he was an active member of the Research Committee and a director and chairman of Ontario Swine Improvement.
As a farm family, Cliff and Karen brought the "farm voice" to significant issues of the day. In the late 1970s they took nearly two weeks of their own time to represent farm interests at the national Energy Board hearings in Ottawa which were setting the rules for construction of a major natural gas line, much of it through farm fields, running from North Bay to Morrisburg. Farmers everywhere got a better deal because of their efforts. Around the same time, they were involved with others in the push to have the South Nation drainage project completed along the section from Cass Bridge to Oak Valley.
He always followed up his commitment to the agriculture community with action. His presence will be missed by his many friends and colleagues in the farming community and by the organizations he was involved in.
The memorial visitation and service were held at the Winchester Funeral Home on April 12 and 13, with a reception after the service for family and friends.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. David Finestone, Dr. Donna Maziak, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre general campus, Michelle of Bayshore Health Care, who provided home care with compassion and allowed Cliff to remain at home for the majority of his illness, and to the staff of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital who looked after Cliff with understanding and sincere care during his time there. A special thank you to Dr. Brian Devin who looked after and comforted Cliff and his family. It was Dr. Devin's caring and guidance that helped ease his final days.
For those wishing, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, for research to fight esophageal cancer, or the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, would be gratefully appreciated by the family.