July 29, 1931 – August 22, 2021
Harvey Warren Cole was born on July 29, 1931 in a dirt floor cabin near Olney Springs, Colorado. This was during the Great Depression. His parents purchased a farm near Peyton, Colorado, where Harvey grew up.
As a child he learned to drive draft horses, milk cows by hand while sitting on a one legged stool and ride horses. Since Harvey was small in his teens, he was the jockey for his father‘s horses at the county fairs.
Harvey wanted to be a veterinarian. He started his pre-veterinary schooling at Colorado State University. However, the Korean War interrupted his studies as Harvey enlisted in the U.S. Army. After training as an army medic he was trained as an operating room nurse. Later he was appointed assistant to a plastic surgeon who restored disfigured war veterans.
This definitely gave Harvey experience for his future veterinary profession.
Upon discharge from the army, Harvey returned to the university to continue his studies. During this period he married Carley Knisley in June of 1956. In March of 1960, his daughter, Tahn Kay, was born and in June of 1963 Harvey received his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
1963 proved to be an eventful year. Less than a month after becoming Dr. Harvey Cole, he moved the family to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta where he had accepted his first veterinary job. The trip north felt like a journey to the top of the world. Harvey’s dream of doctoring animals was now fulfilled.
In April of 1964, a second daughter, Reen Dee, was born. That fall the family of four moved to Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, where Harvey established the first veterinary practice. The ‘vet clinic’ and home was a little house across the Saskatchewan River, a few miles west of town. The kitchen table doubled as an operating table, except for horses, which had to stay outside. And an old shed was ‘rearranged’ to accommodate other needs.
A couple of houses later plus a couple of years work, and Harvey was able to get financing for building a ‘real clinic’. The family living quarters were upstairs. In November of 1969 a son, Kye Reed, was born. Then, his brother, Gil Rush, followed in April of 1973. Sadly, Gil pre deceased his father in January of 2019.
Not only did the veterinary business thrive in Rocky, but also Harvey’s life with horses. Harvey often rode Tiara, the mare had immigrated with us, in the local horse events. All four children learned to ride on Tiara. The horses multiplied and the horse business joined the veterinary business.
In 1974 Harvey took a job at Olds College as instructor and director of the Animal Health Technology Program. The family and the horses then moved to a farm east of Didsbury, Alberta.
Tahn, Reen, Kye and Gil all graduated from Didsbury High School. They also received special training from Dr. Cole in equine management and the fun of fixing fences.
Through the years the family regularly attended church and church camps. In fact, Harvey was an ordained minister and performed marriage and baptisms ceremonies for friends and families.
In 1992 Harvey and Carley moved to Olds, Alberta. After twenty years, Harvey retired from Olds College and started an Equine Mobile Practice. He officially retired as a licensed veterinarian in July of 2019. For 55 years Harvey had provided veterinary service.
Harvey suffered some mini-strokes that fall. On July 10, 2020 a severe stroke caused Aphasia and he was also diagnosed with dementia. A year later, on the 8th of August, Harvey was admitted to the Olds Hospital were he passed quietly away the morning of August 22nd.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Nel and the Olds Hospital staff for the care given to Harvey. The family, including Harvey, want to thank all his clients and friends that joined in his passion for animals and gave him a meaningful life through the years. For sure, there are many stories to be told! We thank you all for sharing in Harvey’s life and your support in Harvey’s passing. In Loving Memory, From your Family
