Obituary of Herbert John Eagle

Herbert "Bert" John Eagle Well Known Lunenburg County Diary Farmer Passes Away 96, of Newcombville passed away Thursday 28 April 2011 in the South Shore Regional Hospital, Bridgewater. Born in Halifax on May 19, 1914, he was the son of the late Charles H. and Violet E. (Reed) Eagle. He was married in 1939 and had two sons named Herbert Jr. and Robert. Bert purchased his farm in 1942 which contained one hundred and fifty acres (150). He joined the Army in September 4, 1944. He went overseas with the Service Corps in early March of 1945 and was later assigned to Ordnance Corps as a light and heavy truck driver. He returned to Canada in late June of 1946 and was discharged to civilian life in late August of 1946. Upon returning home started a mixed farming operation in 1946 with a few cows, hens and hogs. In 1948 he obtained a rural mail contract serving Waterloo, Lapland, Laconia and Chelsea, and continued mail delivery for thirty two years, retiring in 1980. In the fifties the farm changed from a mixed farming operation to dairy farming only and in 1966 a new barn was built and Herbert Eagle Jr. and his father formed a partnership under the farm name Eyrieview. In 1968 the farm was converted to all dairy with the milk sold to Farmer’s Co-Op Dairy Ltd. In 1968 a purebred herd of Holstein was started, the first registered Holstein cow was bought at this time; it took ten years to have a complete purebred herd. In 1980 Herbert Eagle Sr. retired from active farming. Today his herd has grown with ninety head of registered purebred Holsteins, and a milking herd of fifty, with the farm being operated by his son Herbie Jr. and grandson Kevin. Bert worked with many farm and community organizations; he was a member of Newcombville District Fire Department for nineteen years, two years as Fire Chief. He served seven years as Secretary-Treasurer for Lunenburg County Federation of Agriculture and in 1986 was presented with a Life Membership. He was a Director and Past President Nova Scotia Branch Holstein Canada, and also an Honorary Member of the Nova Scotia Federation Agriculture Senate Club. He joined Branch 24 of the Royal Canadian Legion in the 50’s and rejoined Branch 24 in 1974 and was awarded a life member in 1997. He was a Director of the South Shore Exhibition having served for over thirty-one years as Director, Secretary, Vice-President and President. Bert received awards for long service from the South Shore Exhibition in 1990, Distinguished Service Award in 1992 from the Canadian Association of Exhibition and a Distinguished Co-operation award from Bridgewater Farmers co-op in 1993. Bert is survived by sons Herbert C. (Donna) Eagle; Robert L. (Elaine) Eagle; sister Myrtle (Sherman) Wentzell; grandsons Kevin and Gregory Eagle; granddaughters Sandra (Corey) Cross; Sonya (Graham) Campbell; great grandsons Aiden Campbell and Erik Cross. He was predeceased by his first wife Elsie Dorothy (Meisner); second wife Pearl Adelia (Veinot); third wife Kathleen Emma (Joudrey); sister Margaret Hebb; brothers Stanley and Maurice. Visitation will be held 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. Saturday April 30 in Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater, with a public Legion Tribute service at 7:00 P.M. The funeral service will be held 3:00 P.M. Sunday May 1st in All Saints Lutheran Church, Newcombville, Rev. Ben Coltvet officiating. A private family burial will follow in the Newcombville cemetery. Family flowers only. Memorial donations in Bert’s memory may be made to All Saints Lutheran Church; South Shore Exhibition or the charity of choice. To read a more detailed obituary or to make an online condolence please visit www.sweenysfuneralhome.com.