PLEASE READ - Lee Harker Legacy Fund

Eric Patterson

Moderator
Staff member
As all of you know duckboats.net and The Mighty Layout Boys lost a wonderful friend, Lee Harker, to cancer. Since Lee's passing there have been a lot of discussions on what the websites that Lee was closely affiliated with (duckboats.net and mightylayoutboys.com) could do on his behalf. We've decided the sincerest show of appreciation for Lee's loyal friendship that we can do is to establish a legacy fund in his name with his Grandson Blake as the beneficiary. Specifically we are setting up a fund that will be used to provide financial support to Blake so that he may continue to hunt ducks even though Lee is not around to take and teach him. Our goal is to assist with the purchase of hunting equipment, and provide hunting opportunities both near and distant to his Michigan home. Several of you have volunteered to take Blake hunting. The goal of the Lee Harker Legacy Fund is to provide Blake with the equipment needed and cover associated costs so that he may enjoy these wonderful gestures and opportunites. Lee was the only person in Blake's life that actively hunted. With your help we can ensure the passing of Lee does not end hunting for Blake who expresses a strong desire and interest in waterfowling. In fact this was of great concern to Lee when he learned of his illness.

To establish this fund we need your support. As has been done so successfully in the past we are relying on donations. Specifically, donations suitable for auctions and a raffle to be conducted in the near future. Pete McMiller and Paul Rutgers have gracioulsy agreed to organize this fundraising effort on the duckboats.net side while Mark Rongers and Pat Gregory will be working with the Mighty Layout Boys. Please contact them to discuss your donation. To simplify the effort we ask that, where applicable, each person making a donation provide a picture/description and ship the item directly to the winner. This keeps costs down and saves work for everybody. You can expect to see updates as to donations made and how/when the auctions and raffle will be conducted. Thanks goes to everyone who is going to work on this one. In the Lee harker spirit we will have fun while getting the job done and enjoy all the blessings you bring forth to this worthy cause. I commend all those who participate.

Sincerely Eric Patterson
 
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You're absolutely right Charlie. Big or small any donation will be appreciated. We are looking at this as a long term project for the DHBP and the cause doesn't get any better.

If anyone has any questions, fire away.
 
I'm in...I think Lee would think it was funny if we added some original genuine fake paper mache corn decoys...I'll even autograph 'em
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom of my heart! Blake and dad sure were two peas in a pod... They loved each other so deeply and shared such a love for the outdoors and chasing those crazy ducks! Its hard to even imagine Blake hunting with out dad.
But, I know he will. And the support you are all offering will ensure he does just that!

He is already excited about the season this fall, Im not sure how it will come about... Maybe its time I take up learning....


Pete, Paul, Mark, Pat, Steve and Eric thank you so much, and to everyone who donates to the cause thank you all so much as well.

I Know that dad is looking down on all of you with his big smile knowing what a great bunch of buddies he had, to want to take care of Blake for him, now that he is not able to do so....

THANK YOU!!!

Bridget and Blake
 
Count me in for sure for a few things to help raise some funds! I sure miss the
pot heads and this fall is going to be tuff for sure without his humor input and
comments I do know that.
 
Absolutely Doug. You can send any donations to me:

Lee Harker Legacy Fund
C/O
Pete McMiller
1419 S. Main St.
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538

I'll set up a savings account for the proceeds of donations, raffles, and auctions.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
 
It's been a few weeks since we've had this sticky up here with more than 600 views already. We thought it would be a good time to give you all (or ya'lls, or how ever you spell it :) an update on what's happening. As you can see from Pat Gregory's post on donations that the decoys for the hunt in October are coming along and we will have pictures of them as they come in.

In addition, we have received a very nice cash donation already as well as a pair of Bob Furia carved feathers for auction. Some of the other donations that will be coming in the near future will be a hand made knife, a carved fish decoy, decoy anchors, etc. Most of the donations are hand made so we will take a look at a first auction as these projects are completed.

For those of you who would like to donate anything, be it cash or something that we can auction off. Please let us know what you have and a time frame. As Eric and Pat have previously indicated, we would like to have the donor ship the item to the auction winner at the time of the auction. In order to provide a good description, we would request that the donor provide picture(s) of the item that we can put up for the auction.

Thanks for your generosity,

Pete
 
Hi Pete,
I have been gone from the site awhile and not checking in so I just noticed this. Angie and I from The DUCKSTRAP would like to donate one of our 6 loop duck or goose straps for the auction and I'll through in a check cord/ tie out also. I would be happy to take care of the shipping to the winner or I can send it to you whatever will work best. If you need pictures of the products let me know, I really don't post much on the forums but have been an avid reader for many years and Lee will surely be missed by us all. Let me know how I can help.
Thanks
Rick Ault
The Duckstrap
 
First of all, my apologies for not reading through this sticky sooner. Eric and I had discussed this item quite a while back. and although I haven't seen or heard any specifics regarding how the actual bidding is to be conducted on all the items donated (I'll let Pete take care of posting that info).

I'm post up pictures of the item I'll be sending to the high bidder who Pete sends me the name of -- when he has worked out how he wants to handle bids on individual items. So please don't post up bids here or to me! The purpose of this post is just to let you see this item.

This is a pair of hand-carved and painted drake wood-duck feathers. The feathers have been mounted on fabric in a sealed, cherry hardwood shadowbox which is also handmade. The feathers are viewable behind a plexiglass window, and the right hand side of the box has been remarqued with an etching of the DHBP logo burned into the wood. The entire box is oil-finished.

View attachment DHBP 3 (600 x 378).jpg


View attachment DHBP 2 (600 x 399).jpg

View attachment DHBP 1 (600 x 335).jpg

The box can be wall hung, displayed in a plate-holder; or, if the high bidder so
chooses, I would be willing to turn a matching cherry pen to mount in a desk-pen holder permanently mounted on the upper right corner of the box . That way, the piece can be used as a desk set in someone's office. I will personalize the back of the box with a "carved for" inscription before I send it off.
 
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How about a brand new Gumbo duck call? I have one from gumbocalls.net, out of MO, that is VERY nice, and might bring something for the fund?

Bill Moore
 
As a reminder, The Lee Harker Legacy Fund was established to provide the funds necessary to ensure that Lee's grandson, Blake (currently age 11), will have what he needs, as well as expenses, to pursue his education in hunting waterfowl. Lee was just starting Blake's education when he was taken from us last March.

We have donations in two basic categories............. Decoys and non-Decoys. Pat Gregory has been the point man for the decoy donations and will post up here tomorrow. As far as the non-decoy donations are concerned here the list I have of items that have already been donated or have been promised so far.

Hitch ............ $500 cash
Scott O.......... Paper Mache Corn
Dave Larsen..... Not Specified
Rick Ault......... Duck or Goose Strap and tie out lead http://www.theduckstrap.com/
BamaBill.......... Gumbo Duck Call Done - LI-Jack - $125
Bob Furia........ Carved Wood Duck Feathers in custom box DONE - Bill Vullo - $150
Tom Scholberg. MinnKota Model 65 electric trolling motor DONE, Houghton Raffle
Tim J.............. Carved half a fish on a plaque DONE - Ira - $125
Brian Ripplemeyer and his Dad, Bud.... 2 dozen Greenhead Gear diver decoys, two decoy bags, homemade anchors and Tanglefree line. DONE, Houghton Raffle
Brian Ripplemeyer.. A Don Bald "Lil Sweetie II" Turkey call. DONE - Rex Ruth - $35
Brian Ripplemeyer.. A hand made knife.
Pete McMiller..... Piranha Prop with new 10x13 blades
Pete McMiller..... Pure Duck Acrylic Call Done - LI-Jack - $50
Jay Anglin......... Guided hunting or fishing trip.
Capt. Jeff Kraynik....... Guided Florida Duck hunt. DONE - Mike Braden - $300
Kirk Shirbine ...............Gunning Box
Bill Clark................... Pair of Full Curl Flocked Mallard Decoys

I hope I didn't forget anyone.

I am sure there are more forum members that have thought about it but haven't for whatever reason. Please let me know so I can put you on the list. If you are on the list already and would like to add anything, please let me know. If you have indicated an item and haven't sent me a picture and/or a description please PM or email me that information. The items donated do NOT have to be homemade or brand new. If you have something that you don't need or use anymore that would be of value to someone else let me know and we'll "Get'r Done".

Here is the plan. Next Monday, October 5th, would have been Lee's 54th birthday and I think that is a good day to kick off this auction and start building up the fund. As I won't get back until late that night the first item will be put up then or first thing the next morning. I'm thinking that an individual auction should run about 4 days to give everyone an opportunity to bid. If and when you are the winner, I would like you to send the money to Eric and he will in turn tell the donator to ship the item to you. Should work just fine. Some of the items are just too big to ship so I will take those to the Lee Harker Memorial Hunt at Houghton Lake, Michigan the end of October and auction those off there. We have already used some of the cash donation to help Blake get outfitted with some camo hunting duds - rest assured, more will be needed.

There are also quite a few hand made decoys that have already been donated. Pat Gregory will post up tomorrow with that information. The plan for the decoys is to gun them at Houghton Lake, auction some there and then have raffle on the DHBP for the balance.

Any questions?

As I said, I will be away from my computer Thursday am through most of Monday so don't get'em in a bunch if I don't get back to you immediately.
 
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I had the Gumbo call addressed to Pete, but after reading more closely, let me describe it more, and I will mail it to the auction winner afterwards: It's a brand new Gumbo calls acrylic single reed, with bag, box, reeds, corks, etc....color is 'Sweet Tea'.......a metallic/brown sirl color, and this might sound strange, but it's one of the prettiest/neatest acrylic finishes I've seen on a call. Pictures will not do it justice, as my cameras cannot capture the irredescense(sp?) of it. However, I'm posting a link, and the call is the fourth call to scroll through on the scrolling picture frame of the duck calls page on their website. It is also on their 'Store' page, with a larger photo. Very nice call.


http://www.gumbocalls.com/
 
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OK guys wanted to make up an update, Eric sent us a gift card along with a check for the use of getting Blake some hunting items for the trip he went on this last weekend!
If you could have only seen his eyes when he opened up that Cabelas gift card haha better than Christmas!!!!

He used it to purchase some warm items including some socks and a insulated sweat shirt, (and a duck hunting game ;P) and now that he has returned from the hunt
60 plus shells lighter he will be using the rest of it to stock up on his 28 and 20 ga shells!!

I wanted to thank you all so very much once again for all the wonderful donations and time spent and invested in helping to keep him at this wonderful sport!!!

Thanks again to Duane Ganser for one of the most memorable hunts he will probably ever go on! If you could dream up a hunt club Im pretty sure that would be the one!!!

Now what do I do with these 12 ducks I have taking up the top shelf in my freezer hahaha!!!!
 
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