Harvey Alvin Dick

Harvey Alvin Dick was born in Winnipeg on August 13, 1949, to Benjamin and Helen Dick. He was the youngest of two children, his only brother Melvin was already 4 years old. They spent his first few years in the small town of Niverville, Manitoba.

 When Harv was 4 years old, the family made the move to Winnipeg, where Helen, a woman of deep faith, worked tirelessly and lovingly to instill spiritual values in her sons. She traveled great distances to attend conventions, and Harvey fondly recalled a trip to New York in 1959, where he was among 250,000 attendees. From an early age, Harvey was drawn to sports. His cousin, Gerry Hardman, became like a brother to him, and the two could be found playing hockey outside every day after school. At age 16, Harvey’s talent on the baseball field caught the attention of the Winnipeg WHIPS AAA team, who scouted him as a pitcher. Harvey said “I never pursued that but always enjoyed playing with friends in the truth”. His true passion was basketball, and he played in his high school years at Glenlawn Collegiate before earning a basketball scholarship to Brandon University. After a few months, Harvey left University as campus life was not what he wanted.

 A road trip with Gerry would prove to be a turning point in Harvey’s life. At this point Harvey still had not made the truth his own. The two set off in a beat-up 1956 Pontiac, heading for California with barely any money in their pockets. A quick stop in Las Vegas saw them winning just enough at the slot machines to make it home—an experience Harvey would later say he wouldn’t recommend! Their journey took an unexpected turn when their car broke down in Rawlins, Wyoming. Stranded and uncertain where to turn, they sought help at the local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. There, they were met with kindness, given a place to stay, and even had their car repaired. This experience deeply affected Harvey, convincing him to return to his spiritual roots. Upon returning home to Winnipeg, he and Gerry began studying the Bible, and he soon moved in with Gerry and Mike Loewen, determined to strengthen his faith. Harvey was baptized at age 23 at the Divine Will Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Winnipeg on July 20, 1972. His dedication led him to becoming a ministerial servant in 1973 and just a year later, an elder. He loved serving the congregation and striving to be an encouragement to everyone he met.

 It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Linda Lien of Warren, Manitoba. They were married on September 9, 1972, and so began a true lifelong love story. Harvey and Linda built a life together in Winnipeg, first settling on Lincoln Avenue in the Weston Congregation before moving to Logan Avenue, where they welcomed their first daughter, Amanda. Just thirteen months later, Twila was born, followed two years later by their son Jeremy—Harvey’s little sidekick and future golf partner, affectionately nicknamed “Sport.” Seven years later, their family grew once more with the arrival of Kazia, a surprise blessing. Harvey was overjoyed to witness Kazia’s birth at home, an unforgettable moment.

 Family life was the heart of Harvey’s world. He and Linda created a home filled with laughter, love, and countless cherished memories. Baseball games after school, roller skating, picnics in the park, trips to Hecla Island in the winter and a week at Grand Beach in the summer were staples of their family adventures. There were also impromptu football games in the backyard with the whole family, organizing father and son hockey games, and always time for a golf game or two. Every year, their wedding anniversary was celebrated as a family where the children received gifts and occasionally they even spent the night at a water-slide hotel – fun for all!

 To support his family and enable Linda to be a very attentive stay at home mom, he worked tirelessly, running his own exterior company in the summer and various side jobs in the winter—working for Auto Trader, delivering pizza and cleaning offices to name a few. No job was too small if it meant providing for his loved ones. He said, “Dad taught me that pride does not put food on the table nor clothes on our back.” The children have fond memories of joining him on these jobs, which often ended with a special stop at Salisbury House or Robin’s Donuts.

 Faith was ever-present in their home, often woven into daily life. Family worship was sometimes conducted at the park with a picnic, and Harvey always emphasized the importance of teaching by example. Their home was always open to guests, and families were especially welcome during assemblies or conventions. They endeavored to have the entire congregation over family by family. Often Dad would ask “how did you make the truth your own?” and start a beautiful conversation after dinner. One of Harvey and Linda’s lifelong friendships with the Watsons was made when Harvey met Mike on the golf course; Him and his wife, Marilyn needed a place to stay and he insisted they stay with them. On another occasion, Linda’s dear sister and her five children came to stay for six weeks – making wonderful memories and enlarging Harv’s family from four kids to nine!

 Harvey and Linda's family expanded, and with the marriage of their children, they gained four more: Len, Dean, Tracy, and Ryan. Eventually, the arrival of their five grandsons—Levi, Austin, Lachlan, Roger, and Erik— further grew their family. When Levi married, Marisa, Harvey was overjoyed to finally have a granddaughter in the family. His grandchildren knew they could always count on him, and Austin affectionately coined the phrase, “when there’s trouble, Papa’s on the double.” Dad was always available when someone needed a pickup or drop-off at the airport – he was always 'in the area,' whether that meant 6:00 a.m. or 11:00 p.m. He was never inconvenienced and was always easy-going.

The congregations they have been a part of have always been their extended family. East Kildonan congregation was their family for over three decades, then on to Crestview, Tuxedo Park and Wolover. Recently Harvey and Linda moved to Calgary, Alberta, where they became part of the Bearspaw Congregation. Once again, they found a loving community that supported them during the challenges that followed. The last year of Harvey’s life, as he battled Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s disease, was one of the hardest. Towards the end, being physically unable to live at home with Linda was especially painful, but their love remained unwavering. Despite his struggles, he continued to study the Bible, and he read two paragraphs a day of the Watchtower so that he could share a weekly comment with his congregation on Zoom. His prayers reflected his unshakable faith, often beginning with statements like, “Magnificent Jehovah God,” or, “We know the end is coming, and soon the new world will be here, so we need to pull up our socks and get things done—and help and support each other. “

 Harv was predeceased by his brother, his mother and his father. With his family by his side, Harvey peacefully fell asleep on February 13, 2025, at the age of 75.

 Harvey’s legacy lives on in the family he built, the faith he nurtured, and the countless lives he touched. Above all, Harvey’s relationship with Jehovah was his most cherished possession. His Bible-based hope was to be reunited with his family and friends on a paradise earth. When asked what success meant to him, his answer was simple yet profound: “Teaching family by actions that serving our Creator, Jehovah, will give us the best way in life.” His was a life well-lived, filled with love, laughter, and unwavering devotion.