Memorials › MSGT Harry Foster Esgate

MSGT Harry Foster Esgate

11 Mar 1917 – 23 Apr 2015

Birth11 Mar 1917
Death23 Apr 2015
CemeteryCalvary Cemetery
Yakima , Yakima County , Washington , USA
Added byklassikat on 15 Nov 2017
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146145664

Bio

HARRY FOSTER ESGATE, 98, of Yakima, passed away April 23, 2015 in Yakima. He began life as the last sibling of six, born two months early on March 11, 1917, in Spencer, Nebraska, to Katie (Zoubek) and George Esgate. The family moved to Yakima, WA in 1918. Harry attended Yakima schools and graduated from Yakima High School in 1935. He participated in many school and YMCA sporting events as well as working at the YMCA. After graduation, Harry was employed with Yakima Cement Products from 1936 through 1942 until duty called by enlisting in the U.S. Army during WW II. He served in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations with the Tenth Port of Embarkation, began at Camp Stoneman, CA serving as Chief Clerk with Port Services, Purchasing and Contracting primarily in Sicily and Italy. During his military service, Harry became a Master Sergeant and received a Bronze Star for meritorious service while in Livorno, Italy. He met his bride, Giovanna Chianello (Jane), in Palermo, Sicily, and married 2 1/2 years later on April 18, 1945, in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy. Upon Harry's military discharge in 1946, he returned to the great USA. His wife and newborn daughter, Lillian, also shipped out on a cargo ship, meeting up with Harry in New York City. They then purchased a car and traveled across country to settle in Yakima, WA. Harry returned to work at Yakima Cement Products in 1946 until 1981 when he retired. During his tenure there he was a salesman/estimator, purchasing agent, marketing manager, branch manager, manager of the concrete department and lastly credit manager under the name of Western Materials. Two years later Harry worked as a part-time employee with Western Materials in the credit department from 1983 to January, 2004. To keep himself busy he also worked part-time at Wray's Thriftway and Sunfair Chevrolet picking up and delivering utility payments and car tab/license payments to the appropriate businesses. He loved to converse and tell jokes with the customers believing that laughter lightens the day's concerns. Harry was Business Manager of Yakima's American Legion Baseball Team for several years including 1953 when they won the world's championship held in Miami, Florida. He served the community as Past-President of Kamiakin Kiwanis Club, Yakima Engineers Club and Yakima Formal Dancing Club. He also held the position of Secretary-Treasurer of Kamiakin Kiwanis Club for several years. He was a member of the Yakima American Legion and Yakima Elks Club. In 1967, Harry used his financial skills as Fund Raising Director for Yakima County March of Dimes. Throughout Harry's life, he was humble, always felt he performed his work in the most professional way never desiring accolades for his accomplishments. In his youth Harry played baseball, football and basketball as well as refereed high school basketball for many years. He loved spending time with his family working puzzles, playing games, cards and teaching his children to ballroom dance. His many interests included sports, dancing, musicals, traveling and later in life, gardening. The family enjoyed many vacations at Birch Bay, WA, clam digging and crabbing with their good friends, Paul and Evelyn Holt. He and his wife made several trips to Italy to visit relatives and included touring parts of Portugal, Spain, and Germany. They especially enjoyed cruising and dancing on the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. Harry will be long remembered for his humor, always ready to tell or listen to a joke. For special occasions he was known to write and sing silly little ditties to liven up the party - a poet and didn't know it. He took every opportunity to attend his family celebrations and activities like band concerts and chaperoning bus trips, baseball and football games, roller skating and gymnastics competitions, and piano and dance recitals. He left a legacy of memories for the great grandchildren by hiding their Christmas money in surprising ways, like freezing quarters in milk jugs and individually wrapping coins in masking tape. The family could always count on his support and laughter. Harry was predeceased by his parents, George Esgate, Katie (Esgate) Taylor, George Taylor (step-father), and siblings and spouses: Raymond A. (Ann) Esgate, Eddie J.(Alberta) Scheinost, Sr., Gus F. (Ruth) Scheinost, Elsie (John) Scheinost Lutz, Sadie (Marvin) Scheinost Norman, a step-brother, Blaine (Marge)Taylor, and nephews: Cpl. Harold L. Lutz, Richard Norman and Eddie (Bud) J. Scheinost Jr., David Scheinost, and a niece, Phyllis Bunnell. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane, of 70 years; daughter: Lillian (Bill) Hammett; and a son: Danny Esgate; grandchildren: Tammy (John) Rose, Tanya (Erik) Michel, Melissa Winona and Joseph Esgate; great-grandchildren: Jessica (Darrell) Tidrick, Jason Hall, Christopher Gardner, Ashlee Gardner, Tyler Wiegand, AJ Rose, Brandon (Brittney) Rose; great great-grandchildren: Hayden and Zackary Tidrick and Raylee Rose. Viewing will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015, at Shaw & Sons from noon to 4:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 11, 2015, at St. Paul Cathedral Chapel, Yakima. Interment following at Calvary Cemetery. In memory of Harry, donations may be made to Yakima Youth Baseball, PO Box 132, Yakima, WA 98907, or to the YMCA youth sports programs. The family would like to thank the staffs at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital and Cottage in the Meadow for outstanding care and compassion given to our husband, father and grandfather and the family as well. Memories of Harry may be shared at www.shawandsons.com. Yakima Herald-Republic (WA) - Saturday, May 9, 2015

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