John Harach Sr. (1932-2016)
John Harach was born in Redberry, Saskatchewan, one of twenty children who grew up in a one-room home. He left home at eighteen and worked for the Canadian National Railroad. He married Berta in 1956 and they moved to the Yukon. Harach worked in construction and helped build the old Whitehorse hospital, the original F.H. Collins School, and Selkirk Street School. He started to contract on his own and helped demolish the historic buildings at Canyon City. He wanted to save the lumber, but it was too difficult to pull out the nails. The buildings were well-constructed, and he used dynamite to free the boards and salvage ninety percent of the old lumber. He owned a large trap line and could turn his hand to carpentry, plumbing, welding, mechanics, metal working, hunting, fishing, gardening, sewing, and cooking. The hardships he faced strengthened his faith. Harach was predeceased by his eldest son Nick and his wife Berta and survived by his second wife Mary Anne, eight siblings, and seven children and their spouses.1)