John Edward Hardin

John Edward Hardin

Cedar Rapids

John Edward Hardin, 84, passed away on March 24th, 2025. Celebration of life services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, 2121 Bowling Street SW. Burial will take place at Czech National Cemetery with military honors performed by the Swisher American Legion. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at Brosh Chapel.

John, affectionately known as “Jack” by his friends and family, lived a venturesome life. He was born at Mercy Hospital, in Cedar Rapids, on March 14th, 1941 to Ralph L. Hardin and Helen L. Worthing. He was baptized at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in 1949 and graduated from Jefferson High School (Class of 1959). After graduation, Jack enlisted into the United States Air Force and was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1961, he married his childhood friend and classmate, Bette Wingett. John was most proud of their Irish-twin daughters, Christine Lee and Catherine Anne Hardin. Although divorced in 1968, the two remained close and lifetime friends.

John dedicated his life and career to Northwestern Bell and was promoted to District Plant Manager, CR in 1970. In the mid-70’s, John transferred to South Texas, leading and managing his own crew until his retirement in 1991. With John’s unmatched work ethic, mechanical ingenuity, expertise in renovation, and project management skills, he found himself passionately refurbishing homes and buying and clearing properties in Iowa and Texas.

John was a magnetic force, people gravitated toward him. He was compassionate, loving, caring, attentive, and funny. He loved to be surrounded by people and spent many hours entertaining with his energy and personality. He had a story for every excursion in his life.

John enjoyed spending many hours fine-tuning his garden, canning, and cooking with family and friends. He loved spending time outdoors: fishing on the Mississippi, mushroom hunting, small and big game hunting. John enjoyed teaching his grandchildren how to shoot clay pigeons and targets at Otter Creek Sportsmen’s Club. He loved good food and smoking meat.

He was honored to be part of the Honor Guard in Swisher, Iowa and Porter, Texas. He is a life-time supporter of the Disabled Vets and American Legion.

John is survived by his daughter, Cathi (Matt) Kane; grandchildren Josh (Laura) Kane, Marty (Kelsey) Tope, Jacqueline (Trevor) Glomski, Julia (Conner) Hartman, and Carlee (Gennaro) King; eight great-grandchildren; and his beloved sisters Susan (Nino) Gallo and Sue Finley. Also surviving “Uncle Jack” are nieces/nephews: Carrie (Jim) Maxson, Todd and Kelly Finley, Charlie (Jessica) Sylvia, Suzanne (Marty) Brown, Chad Straub, Troy and Todd Eickstaedt. John is also survived by his wife, Darleen and stepdaughter Angie (Lance) Mundkowsky of Magnolia, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Christy Hardin-Tope, two stepsons Darrell Lock and Stephan Dolen, sisters Barbara Wray, Sandy Bramer and Connie Wims.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Swisher American Legion, Hospice of Mercy, or the Czech National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.broshchapel.com.