Howard Wayne Harner, 90, of Earlville, was re-united in heaven with the love of his life, Dora Mae Harner, on May 11, 2018. Howard passed away in peace at Mendota Heritage Manor surrounded by his children.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 on Monday, May 14, at the Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home, Earlville. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, in the Earlville United Methodist Church, with Pastor Sandra Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Wisner Cemetery, Ophir Township, Triumph.
He was born on August 12, 1927, Meriden, Illinois, the son of George and Lela (Billings) Harner. He graduated from eighth grade at Meriden Country School and attended Mendota High School. He worked in the Seneca Service Shipyard as a welder during World War II.
Howard enlisted in the US Navy and became a Machinist's Mate Third Class who worked the engine room on the Battleship New Jersey. At the end of World War II, he served on the New Jersey patrolling the oceans from California, the Panama Canal, Cuba, and Norfolk, Virginia to Edinburgh, Scotland and Oslo, Norway.
Howard married Dora Mae Carr, the daughter of Lloyd and Vada Carr, of Triumph, on August 6, 1952, at the Earlville United Methodist Church. They celebrated 57 years of marriage. Dora preceded him in death on March 6, 2010. Howard and Dora loved to dance. Together they waltzed, fox-trotted, and swing danced from Chicago to Florida without ever missing a step.
Howard and Dora lovingly raised their three children who survive them – Douglas (Tammy), La Moille; Gregory, Jacksonville, FL; and Karla Boltz (Troy Hasselbacher), Franklin Grove. Surviving are also five grandchildren - Tricia Harner Hamil; Kyle, Max, and Evan Boltz; and Grant Harner as well as seven great-grandchildren.
Howard was a 60-year member of Ironworkers Local 498, Rockford. He worked for 16 years at the Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill in Sterling where he was a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, and assistant to the superintendent, serving as superintendent when needed. Howard then worked as a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, and finally the project manager with Mid - City Architectural Iron Company, for the construction of the Byron Nuclear Power Plant. He designed and engineered the control center, which sat atop the plant building.
Howard used his engineering skills to design and frame the family home himself with the help of one carpenter. He built the brick fireplaces and he crafted the wood trim, cupboards, and much of the furniture. Inside, the home was always filled with love and laughter. Howard meticulously maintained a stellar lawn that never showed the wear of the baseball, football, and playground games of his children and the neighborhood children who enjoyed their summer days there. He and Dora nurtured beautiful flowers and trees that enveloped their home.
Howard also used his engineering and creative woodworking skills to initiate building projects throughout his life at the Earlville United Methodist Church, where he was a member. His expert craftsmanship and artistic designs can be seen throughout the Earlville United Methodist Church as well as the Mendota Methodist Church. He served as a Trustee and the Financial Secretary of the Earlville United Methodist Church for decades.
In addition to church, dancing, gardening, and woodworking, Howard was a member of the Earlville Lion's Club and a former member of the Mendota Elk's Club.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and both of his sisters, Kay Harner Taylor and Luella Harner Drum.
Memorials may be directed to the Earlville United Methodist Church or the Wisner Cemetery. For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.Eighnerfuneralhomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral
407 S. Ottawa St.
Earlville, IL 60518
815-246-6491
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 on Monday, May 14, at the Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home, Earlville. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, in the Earlville United Methodist Church, with Pastor Sandra Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Wisner Cemetery, Ophir Township, Triumph.
He was born on August 12, 1927, Meriden, Illinois, the son of George and Lela (Billings) Harner. He graduated from eighth grade at Meriden Country School and attended Mendota High School. He worked in the Seneca Service Shipyard as a welder during World War II.
Howard enlisted in the US Navy and became a Machinist's Mate Third Class who worked the engine room on the Battleship New Jersey. At the end of World War II, he served on the New Jersey patrolling the oceans from California, the Panama Canal, Cuba, and Norfolk, Virginia to Edinburgh, Scotland and Oslo, Norway.
Howard married Dora Mae Carr, the daughter of Lloyd and Vada Carr, of Triumph, on August 6, 1952, at the Earlville United Methodist Church. They celebrated 57 years of marriage. Dora preceded him in death on March 6, 2010. Howard and Dora loved to dance. Together they waltzed, fox-trotted, and swing danced from Chicago to Florida without ever missing a step.
Howard and Dora lovingly raised their three children who survive them – Douglas (Tammy), La Moille; Gregory, Jacksonville, FL; and Karla Boltz (Troy Hasselbacher), Franklin Grove. Surviving are also five grandchildren - Tricia Harner Hamil; Kyle, Max, and Evan Boltz; and Grant Harner as well as seven great-grandchildren.
Howard was a 60-year member of Ironworkers Local 498, Rockford. He worked for 16 years at the Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill in Sterling where he was a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, and assistant to the superintendent, serving as superintendent when needed. Howard then worked as a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, and finally the project manager with Mid - City Architectural Iron Company, for the construction of the Byron Nuclear Power Plant. He designed and engineered the control center, which sat atop the plant building.
Howard used his engineering skills to design and frame the family home himself with the help of one carpenter. He built the brick fireplaces and he crafted the wood trim, cupboards, and much of the furniture. Inside, the home was always filled with love and laughter. Howard meticulously maintained a stellar lawn that never showed the wear of the baseball, football, and playground games of his children and the neighborhood children who enjoyed their summer days there. He and Dora nurtured beautiful flowers and trees that enveloped their home.
Howard also used his engineering and creative woodworking skills to initiate building projects throughout his life at the Earlville United Methodist Church, where he was a member. His expert craftsmanship and artistic designs can be seen throughout the Earlville United Methodist Church as well as the Mendota Methodist Church. He served as a Trustee and the Financial Secretary of the Earlville United Methodist Church for decades.
In addition to church, dancing, gardening, and woodworking, Howard was a member of the Earlville Lion's Club and a former member of the Mendota Elk's Club.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and both of his sisters, Kay Harner Taylor and Luella Harner Drum.
Memorials may be directed to the Earlville United Methodist Church or the Wisner Cemetery. For more information or to sign the online guest book, go to www.Eighnerfuneralhomes.com
Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral
407 S. Ottawa St.
Earlville, IL 60518
815-246-6491
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Howard Wayne Harner, please visit our flower store.