On April 8, 2017, Harvey Kleiman peacefully passed away at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta.
Born August 4, 1924 in Estevan, Saskatchewan, Harvey was the oldest son of Maurice and Mary Rose Kleiman (nee Frost), who together with his brother Jack, and his 4 sisters grew up and went to school in Hirsch and Estevan.
Harvey was educated locally and received a teaching certificate which led to a brief teaching career in Wynyard and South Frobisher. Harvey, however, preferred farming and business to teaching.
He and Jack, together affectionately known to many as “the Boys” throughout their lives, worked tirelessly with their late father, Maurice, throughout the difficult times of the Depression to build their family farm from its meagre beginnings as part of the Hirsch Colony, into a modern and substantial operation, well equipped and meticulously maintained, until finally selling same in 2016 and moving to Calgary in January, 2017, seeking medical help. Together, they, with their late father, also opened and operated for many years’ successful farm implement and automobile sales and service facilities in Oxbow and Frobisher, which included operating franchises under brands like Massey Harris, Dodge and General Motors. Being industrious and hard-working throughout their lives, Harvey and Jack were able to effectively plan and capitalize on the burgeoning resource market in Southeast Saskatchewan, operating initially as Poplar Developments Ltd., and later as Kleiman Enterprises Ltd. and H. J. Resources Inc.
Harvey, with his brother Jack, is fondly remembered as the senior and guiding directors of Poplar Developments Ltd., founded in the 1970’s, and operated throughout the 1980’s as an oil exploration company drilling on crown and freehold lands in and around Stoughton, Steelman, Midale, Pinto, Hastings, and Bienfait, and having its offices in Estevan, where Poplar developed a large office and industrial building in the East Industrial area, before the Poplar office building was sold in the mid – 1990’s.
In all of these businesses Harvey and Jack were able to employ a significant number of local residents and make and maintain many happy friendships and favorable business relationships with local farmers and entrepreneurs. Their success also allowed them to be generous supporters of local charitable initiatives such as the Estevan General Hospital and the proposed Estevan nursing home. Harvey was a lifelong member of the Elks chapter in Estevan.
Harvey was predeceased by his parents Maurice and Mary Rose (nee Frost) and his older sister Florence Selby (Louis, deceased), and is survived by his brother Jack and his sisters Betty Gilfix (Joseph, deceased), Ruth Eisenstat (Ben, deceased) Ann Eist (Harold) and their respective families.
Inseparable since early childhood, Jack is deeply saddened by Harvey’s passing. The loss is shared by their expansive family and particularly Harvey’s nieces and nephews and their children. Also missing Harvey are his numerous friends and neighbours. Those who worked with and for Harvey and Jack, and those who were customers and business associates will fondly remember Harvey’s intellect, fairness, willingness to help others in need and his business acumen and skills.
Harvey always loved his family, farming, and Saskatchewan, and he was often heard proudly telling others of these loves. He is and will be missed by all.
Harvey’s interment was held on April13, 2017 at Jewish Memorial Chapel in Calgary.
