Man dies in tractor incident
BARBARA SIMPSON, SIMCOE REFORMER

A 75-year-old Delhi resident died on his family farm after he was pinned beneath a tractor Monday morning.

Shortly before 9 a.m., Wilfried Scheers was discovered underneath a tractor at his son's grape farm in the hamlet of Glenshee. He had been carrying tree stumps to a gulley when he didn't return from one of his trips. A helper discovered him underneath the tractor and quickly called for emergency assistance.

"We were so fortunate that Austin didn't find him," said Scheers' daughter Terry, referring to her 12-year-old nephew. "Austin was his little shadow on the farm every day."

Instead, his best friend George Pieters was called out to the scene. He and his wife Mary Ann were tasked with informing the Scheers family of the incident.

"We're grateful for their quick response," Terry added. "We can't imagine the nightmare they had to see."

The Pieters are instead focusing their energies on the positive memories. Scheers had just celebrated his 75th birthday with his secondary family -- his fellow shooters at the Delhi Belgian Club. His archery mates had celebrated his birthday at the club's teen dance last Thursday.

"All the young girls gave him a hug and a kiss and he was in his glory," Mary Ann recalled.

Many local youngsters knew Scheers through his passion of archery. He started his own archery club for interested youth, investing in both bows and arrows to ensure all would be able to participate.

"He started the Sunday Family Archery Club because his own children couldn't participate," Terry recalled, adding there was only adult events at one time.

Scheers was able to coach his four grandchildren in archery. He even encouraged his cousin Steve Scheers's daughters to come on board.

"My girls participated in the archery club last year," Steve recalled. "He was dedicated to promoting archery."

He was also talented at the sport. He quickly racked up the titles over his last 25 years in archery, coaching the Delhi Belgian Club Junior Archery Team to win the 2010 Tri-County Junior Championship in Aylmer.

"That's where his heart glowed -- with the kids," Mary Ann added.

Determination and kindness are the traits that Scheers will be remembered by, say family and friends. Born in Belgium, Scheers immigrated to Canada in 1949. He lived at a family tobacco farm, studying English through night courses.

Scheers eventually became a share-grower with his grandfather on a family farm in the hamlet of Glenshee. He and his wife Nella -- who he coincidentally met at the Delhi Belgian Club -- bought a neighbouring farm in 1974. There they raised two children, Terry and Wayne.

When the couple retired into Delhi 15 years ago, Wayne eventually turned the property over into a grape farm. His strong work ethic still wouldn't rest. He was a fixture out on the farm until the very end.

"He was making sure we were doing it right," Terry joked.

Sheers was also a dedicated shareholder of the Delhi Belgian Club and involved with the Delhi/La Salette Knights of Columbus. He was always willing to lend a hand, especially with his own children.

"On Saturdays, he would take us out to the Father's Day Brunch and he would pay," Terry recalled. "We would ask him, 'What's wrong with this picture?'"

Scheers will be missed by his wife Nella, his children Terry and Wayne, and his grandchildren Jason, 22, Elisa, 19, Austin, 12, and Victoria, 10. Arrangements are being entrusted to Delhi's Murphy Funeral Home.