Sidney Bruce Harper

    A Celebration of the Life of Sidney "Sid" Harper will be held Tuesday March 19th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the VFW Post 1215 Event Center located at 2775 43rd St. NW in Rochester. Relatives and friends are invited to share their memories about Sid at any time, and The Reverend Jeff Niederstadt will preside over the memorialization at 2:00 PM. Entombment of Sid's urn, along with military honors, will take place at the Veterans' State Cemetery in Preston on Wednesday March 20th at 11:00 AM. Sidney died Tuesday March 12, 2024 at The Estates at Roseville, a care center in Roseville.

Sidney Bruce Harper was born July 19, 1947 to Theodore and Joyce (Latherow) Harper.  Raised in Champaign, Seymour, and Monticello, Illinois, he was a graduate of Monticello High School with the Class of 1965.  He then served his country in the United States Air Force and spent 1½ years in Vietnam.  Returning home, he soon moved to Tucson, Arizona and married Nina (Nannhalter) Hisor.  After earning a BS in Horticulture at the University of Arizona, he worked briefly in the nursery plant production industry in Texas.  He and Nina then returned to Tucson where he trained and worked as an audiologist and worked in their family owned Miracle Ear franchise until his retirement at age 50.  He and Nina then wintered in Apache Junction, Arizona and summered in Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona for many years.  A few years after Nina's passing in 2017, Sidney met Linda Hemerick, to whom he was married on September 19, 2020.  Not long before their wedding, Sidney was given an unfortunate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.  But the very loving nature of Sid and Linda's relationship only served to make their time together that much more special and precious.  They enjoyed music and dancing.  They traveled far and often and put more into their 3½ years together than many relationships that are blessed with far more time than theirs.  Linda told him he was the man she had prayed for.  Through his struggles with Alzheimer's he promised he would not forget her, and he didn't.

    Sid had a genuine interest in all things.  He loved traveling, and especially so with Linda.  He also loved golf, playing billiards, horseshoes, and handball.  He created art and appreciated the artwork of others.  He enjoyed the wonder of the sights seen in long car rides, and working in the yard, whether it was in Arizona or Minnesota.  He enjoyed walking Linda's dog Scooter, and later their dog Dusty Rose.  He never met a stranger and was quick to strike up a conversation with anyone willing to engage.  He even once sang a karaoke version of Frank Sinatra's My Way.  He was very outgoing and will be remembered for his kind spirit.

He is survived by his wife Linda Hemerick-Harper of Rochester; step-sons Kenneth 'Aaron' Hiser of Tucson, Arizona and Eric Parkhurst of Joshua Tree, California; a step-daughter Chris (Jon) Larson of Hastings, Minnesota; three step-grandchildren Brandon Henning, Kali Peterson, and Abby (Cody) Anderson.  He is also survived by a brother James (Pat O'Leary) Harper of Raleigh, North Carolina; a sister Sally (John) Muse of Monticello, Illionis; cousins, nieces, and nephews; siblings-in-law Flo, Barb, Craig, Deb and Randy, Pat and Larry, Mary and Barney, Mike and Shelly, Butch and Patty.

Sid was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Nina Harper; and two brothers Terry and David Harper.  If so desired, memorials are suggested to an Alzheimer's research foundation of the donor's choosing.