Obituary of Harry Scherrer

Harry Frederick Scherrer was born in Denver, Colorado on Dec. 7, 1915 to Harry A. Scherrer and Lucille (Dillon) Scherrer, the second oldest of 8 children. He passed away in Limon on July 24, 2013. Harry grew up on the family homestead in the Breaks northwest of Limon, and as an adult always loved going back to the ranch. He learned to work hard and get by with little during the depression and the dust bowl days. As soon as he was big enough, he began working for other farmers and ranchers in the area while helping his own family. He attended the Rockledge country school for his elementary years, then high school in Denver for a year, graduating from Limon in 1933. In 1943 Harry purchased some acreage south of Limon where he spent the rest of his life until a fall at the farm necessitated his move to Limon in 2010. In November 1943 he married Ruth Noah from the Agate area, and they raised seven children together on the farm. After Ruth’s health made it necessary for her to be in a nursing home he stayed on the farm alone, visiting her often and bringing her home for holidays and get-togethers. Harry loved his family and enjoyed any family gathering, even after he was unable to hear the conversations. He enjoyed watching everyone visiting, especially when there was lots of laughter. He was proud of his children and grandchildren and loved hosting the annual Thanksgiving feast at his home. As long as he was able he loved board games, jigsaw puzzles, horseshoes, skeet shooting, or just going for walks with his guests. He was an avid reader and enjoyed learning about new things. He discovered a new joy in flower gardening after he retired from working in town. The annual 4th of July Scherrer family reunion was an event he looked forward to and enjoyed until his last year. Like his brothers, he loved a good prank and had a wry sense of humor. He worked for Groff Equipment Company in Limon as a master mechanic for many years, finally retiring at the age of 75 when the tornado of 1990 destroyed the business. He traveled many miles as a mechanic for Groff Equipment and worked on everything from lawn mowers to combines. He was well known for his honesty as well as his ability. For many years he worked days in town and then farmed at night. He planted his last wheat crop at the age of 93 when failing health and eyesight prompted him to lease his farm ground to a trusted neighbor. It saddened him that he had to give it up, as he truly enjoyed working the land and seeing the crop come up. When electricity was introduced into his neighborhood in 1946 Harry helped wire many of the homes. For many years he also was on the board of the local phone company and the Limon Farm Co-Op. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and a lifelong member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Limon. Services were held at the church on July 29th. He was laid to rest in the Limon Cemetery alongside his beloved wife Ruth. Harry was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; his parents; his brothers, Elmer Scherrer, Hugh Scherrer, and Donald Scherrer; and sisters, Irma Williamson, Margaret Mohatt, and Louise Claypoole. He is survived by his sister Mary (Leonard) Calkum of Limon; sister-in-law Margaret (Hugh) Scherrer of Matheson; brother in-law Bill (Doris) Noah or Ordway; children, Mary Scherrer of Genoa, Jody (Mike) Thayer of St. Louis Mo., Kathy McEowen of Denver, Carol (Tony) Barb of Limon, Paul (Anne Marie) Scherrer of Ft. Collins, Allen Scherrer of Denver, and Michael (Cindy) Scherrer of Grand Junction; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.