Every haver in Habonim knew Nate Kanter, even those who had never met him, because he personified the ideals of our movement. He was a complete halutz-devoted, unselfish, unassuming, working ceaselessly.
Halutziut came easily for Nate; to him it was the natural way of life. He was preparing for life in Eretz Yisrael at an age when most haverim are just beginning to consider halutziut. At sixteen, he left home and began training at the National Farm School. On his days o:ff, he was a frequent visitor at the Hehalutz Training Farm at Creamridge, New Jersey. Those haverim now in Eretz Yisrael will remember the quiet, hard-working boy who became so close to them.
When he reached eighteen, he entered the Navy and served two and a half years, largely in the Pacific.
On his return to St. Louis, he threw himself into movement work more vigorously than ever. One of his first activities was a visit to the training farm at Creamridge. He came to be one of the most active and respected haverim in the machaneh.
He was killed in an automobile accident on his way home from a meeting of Habonim. At the time of his death he was making plans to leave for Eretz Yisrael in the spring.
His loss is a tremendous blow for all of us. He has left a gap which cannot be filled, both in his work in the movement and in his relations with his haverim. The things he wanted for himself will never be realized-but the fulfillment of the things he wanted for his haverim and for his people lies in our hands.
Furrows, February, 1947