Fred Harkrider
April 25, 1940 — July 27, 2013
Fred H. Harkrider, age 73 years of Edwardsburg, Michigan and formerly of Niles and Buchanan died at 1:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following an extended illness.
He was born on April 25, 1940 in Buchanan, Michigan to Fred Redden and Shirley (Howard) Harkrider. He enlisted in the United States Navy, and was a veteran of the Viet Nam Era. He lived in Niles from 1961 until moving to Edwardsburg in 1977. He was employed by the former G&R Construction Company in Niles for twenty-five years, and then was employed at Morgan Drive-Away.
Fred was a member of the Church of Christ in Buchanan. He was formerly a member of the American Legion Post #365 in Edwardsburg. He has always enjoyed fishing, and teaching children about fishing. When his children were young, they enjoyed camping at Lake Michigan, and Fred supported his son’s BMX bicycle racing by volunteering at races.
On August 10, 1961 in Stevensville, Michigan he married the former Gloria J. Gillentine with whom he celebrated last year the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Harkrider and by their children, Mary Jane (& Robert) Davis and Fred Ray (& Sharon) Harkrider, both of Niles and Jon Anthony (& Shonne) Harkrider of Bristol, Indiana; grandchildren Becky Davis, Mindy Howard, Danielle Harkrider, Samantha (& Jesse) Foreman, and Tanner Scott Harkrider; great-grandchildren Hennesy, Brooklyn, Harley, and Lalique; and Fred’s brother, Jack Earl (& Gladys) Harkrider of Buchanan and his children, Jack Harkrider, Jr. and Linda Harkrider.
Services for Fred Harkrider will be at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Randy Pearman of Bethel Baptist Church officiating and will conclude with Full Military Honors on the funeral home lawn by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.
The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Contributions in memory of Fred Harkrider may be made to an animal welfare organization of the donor’s choice.