Obituary of Harold Wilfred Fournier

Fournier, Harold (Harry) age 70 of Minneapolis, suffered a stroke and died peacefully on January 4, 2021. Special thanks to staff at Hennepin County Medical Center for their professional, compassionate care during his final days.

Harry was born in Duluth, Minnesota on March 11, 1950 to Vernon & Liz Fournier. He is preceded in death by his parents. Survived by wife of 46 years, Connie; son Jeremy Erickson; sisters Renee Miller (John), Doris Pezzotti (Jeff); brother Phil Fournier (Cherie) , uncle Rick Fournier (Katie), aunt Annemie Spanner of Germany. He will be dearly missed by nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and neighbors.

He grew up on the outskirts of Duluth. His childhood was filled with woods to roam, ponds to skate, tree shacks to build and backyards for football. He was a member of the national champion Duluth Accordionaires; earning a tour of Italy and an appearance on the Johnny Carson Show with their record “Music to Eat Pizza By.”

Harry graduated from Hermantown High school in 1968 where he lettered in track. He received a liberal arts degree from the University of Minnesota, returning later to study architecture. After learning carpentry at Summit Academy, he began his building career at Placemakers, Gray’s Bay, Design Craft and his own St. Croix Falls Building Company with partner Weldon Schwartz. He renovated an historic home in Minneapolis where he lived for 43 years. Harry was a meticulous craftsman. In 1989 he joined Kraus Anderson as carpenter, advancing to superintendent where his architectural sketches were often utilized until he retired in 2006.

Harry loved adventure: sky diving, sailing, downhill skiing, hitchhiking; mountain climbing the Teton Range in Wyoming, Chimborazo in Ecuador and summiting Mt. Hood in Oregon with brother Phil. He and Phil biked from Minneapolis to Duluth in a single day when he was 24 and Phil was 14. He completed two Duluth roller blade marathons. He was passionate about books, music, French, golf, chess and walks with his dog Mercedes. Nothing excited him more than the approach of a storm; watching the barometer drop, waiting for it to arrive.

Harry was a kind, intelligent soul. Neighbors enjoyed watching him work on his historic home while listening to French, interacting in his gentle manner with the neighborhood kids and passersby. He acquired the nickname of “Uncle Buck” on ski trips with college friends’ children. Surrounded by books, art, maps, puzzles, tools, fossils and found treasures is where he felt most comfortable. Never without a book in his pocket; he spent hours in bookstores followed by a search for a good pub to sit with a bowl of chowder reading his new find. Stray cats were welcomed into his home. Squirrels waited by his door for their daily ration of nuts. He enjoyed cooking comfort food, embraced his French-Canadian heritage and practiced piano on his grandmother’s upright. Harry had beautiful handwriting that made treasures out of simple cards and notes.

Harry’s last request: “Choose a fresh and sparkling day and spread my ashes along the banks of a North Shore stream. I will be home and at rest.” Gatherings of family and friends will be planned when it can be done safely and the weather is beautiful.

Memorials may be directed to The Nature Conservancy, Animal Humane Society or Minnesota Stroke Association

Note: Photo taken at monument in honor of ancestor Nicholas Fournier who was an original settler of Charlesbourg outside Quebec