Arnold H. Rife
July 22,1918 - 2011
It is with great sadness that the family of Arnold Rife announces his peaceful passing on December 1, 2011 at The Westmount Long Term Care Residence, in his 94th year.
Arnold was predeceased by his dear wife, Jessie May (Oliver) in 2004. Cherished father of David and Gloria Rife of Ayr and Rosemary and Bill Phillips of Kitchener. Beloved Grandfather of Carolyn Biehl and Cyrus Rife (Tracey) of Kitchener and Wayne Rife (Christina) of Paris. Dear Papa of Johnny, Cassandra (Gabriel Aguilar), Aleisha, Samantha, Matthew, Emma, Cara, and Ashley and Great-Great Grandfather of Gabriell. Also sadly missed by Marg Olheiser and Katie, many nieces and nephews and countless friends.
Arnold was born in Galt, Ontario on July 22, 1918, the son of the late William Arnold and Lillian M. (Courtney) Rife. He farmed in North Dumfries Township his entire life before moving to the outskirts of Kitchener in 2000. He is the last surviving member of his family, predeceased by four brothers - Jack (1989), Charles (1996), Kenneth (2005), David (2011) and two sisters - Lillian O’Neill (1988) and Carol Dunnett (1995).
It is impossible to sum up the life of Arnold Rife. You had to know him to understand the depth of his determination and the breadth of his dedication to farming, plowing, heavy horses and his community. He married Jessie May (Oliver) on March 25, 1944 and together they operated a dairy farm on the Roseville Road from 1944 to 1970. Arnold was a member of the North Dumfries Township Council from 1958 to 1968 and a member of the Galt and North Dumfries Suburban Planning Board from 1958 to 1973. He was also an active member of the Galt Fair Board from 1960 to 1984. In 1971 Arnold built a new home on 32 acres of his land on Dumfries Road. He retired from farming and undertook a new life dedicated to his avid interest in Belgian and Percheron horses. He was president of the Ontario Belgian Horse Association in 1983-84 and judged draft horses at over 35 different fairs in Ontario from 1984 to 1996. He entertained many people with his stories as he hauled wagon rides and sleigh rides on his acreage and at Doon Pioneer Village and Westfield Pioneer Village. He also used his Belgian horses to pull the Seagram’s Float in the Oktoberfest Parade and the Grey Cup and Daffodil Parades. He participated in many local parades and events with his horses until the year 2000. After giving up his horses he focused on restoring horse-drawn equipment and antique tractors, loved to tinker in his workshop and drove thousands of miles around the country providing a running commentary to anyone fortunate enough to travel with him.
Arnold was a renowned plowman. He began plowing at the age of 13 and first competed at the International Plowing Match in 1933. He was Vice President of the local committee for the IPM held in Breslau in 1954 and served as a Director of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association from 1964 to 1968. Arnold shared his knowledge of plowing and coached many successful young men and women. He served as an active Director of the North Dumfries Plowmen’s Association for 46 years. In 1995, at the age of 77, he plowed the first furrow with his Percheron team at the IPM in Waterloo County. He last plowed competitively at the age of 92 at a match in Troy. Arnold received many awards throughout his lifetime. Most recently in February, 2011 Arnold received a Centennial award from the Ontario Plowmen’s Association. On this occasion he was noted to be an icon of determination, perseverance, ingenuity and honesty as well as a great example of a dying breed that made the history of plowing in Waterloo County and surrounding area what it is today.
Arnold’s last great legacy was a Conestoga Wagon which he commissioned in 2006. It is an exact replica of the original Conestoga Wagon that carried his ancestors from Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Waterloo County in 1825. Arnold oversaw the building of this wagon and donated it to Country Heritage Park in Milton in memory of the Mennonite pioneers of Waterloo County. This wagon is being used to promote the upcoming IPM in Roseville in 2012.
For the past eleven years Arnold has been a Director of the Heavy Horse Committee at Country Heritage Park. He was also a Member of the Ontario Belgian Horse Association, the Ontario Percheron Horse Association, the Central Dumfries Community Club and the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario. He attended Knox’s (Galt) Presbyterian Church for 55 years and was currently a member of Doon Presbyterian Church in Kitchener.

Arnold will always be remembered for his strong work ethic, his remarkable memory, his great sense of humour, his genuine interest in people and his deep and abiding love of the land. He was a grand old gentleman and a legend in his time.

Friends may call at the Ayr Chapel, Wm. Kipp Funeral Home, 183 Northumberland St. Ayr on Sunday 2-4 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Services will be held at Knox’s Galt Presbyterian Church, (2 Grand Ave. S. Cambridge) on Monday at 1:00PM. Interment Cedar Creek Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Knox Presbyterian Church or the Mennonite Central Committee would be appreciated
Online condolences or donations may be arranged through www.wmkippfuneralhome.com or by contacting Wm. KIPP 519-632 8228.

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