Harold Heinmiller, known by all for his wit, pranks, sense of humor, and his memorable one liners, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on April 1, 2007.

Harold could not have picked a better day for his final voyage, April Fool’s Day. In a typical Harold fashion, he left his family wondering whether it had really happened. Harold was born Aug. 31, 1921 to Edwin and Charlotte Heinmiller, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Prince Albert, Canada. At age seven he moved with his parents and eight siblings to Santa Monica, Calif. where Harold graduated from high school.

After graduating from high school he went to work for Clark Boat Service operating a water taxi, transporting passengers between Long Beach and Catalina Island, Calif. On Jan. 5, 1942, Harold enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. He was stationed in San Pedro, Calif. until his deployment to the Asiatic-Pacific aboard the Amphibious Attack Transport – APA 224 – USS Randall.

During the war he earned a Good Conduct Ribbon, Pacific Theater of Operation Ribbon, and an American Theater of Operation Ribbon. Attending a USO dance, Harold met his bride-to-be, Jackie Fine, who was also enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. They married on Dec. 7, 1944. After their tour of duty ended they moved to Catalina Island.

It was on this island that they celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Sherry. In 1949 they moved back to Long Beach to give birth to their son, Wesley. The zest for adventure called when Harold accepted a position as foreman of Building Operations on the island of Taveuni in Fiji. Harold being as he was, he couldn’t just put his family on a plane and fly them to Fiji. He opted to put them on a 72-foot yawl he was skippering, the Baruna, and sailed them to Fiji.

Harold ran Building Operations on the Songulu Plantation over the next four years. In 1974 the family returned to their home in Long Beach where Harold went back to work skippering private yachts out of the Long Beach Yacht Club and surrounding area. Harold could always be seen skippering some of the well known yachts; White Light, Adagio, and Summer Song. In 1978 he moved to Palm Springs where he continued to commute to the coast and skipper yachts between Long Beach, Catalina Island and Mexico.

In 1993 he retired to the San Juan Islands in Washington. He lived out his life on Orcas Island in Deer Harbor, living on the water’s edge, the only way he would have had it. His street was called Legend Lane, which was a fitting name for one of life’s great legends. Harold will be missed by all! He was laid to rest on Friday, April 6, 2007 at Woodlawn Cemetery on Orcas Island. Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, Wash. To share memories of Harold, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.