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HARPEN
John H.
John H. Harpen, 1928 to 2013. Recently described by one of his nephews as "one of the great Uncles, lawyers, singers, and characters of all time", John Harrington Harpen passed away with peace and dignity at Ebeid Hospice in Sylvania the morning of April 4 with his wife of 59 years and son at his side.
Born to Howard and Helen (Harrington) Harpen, August 3, 1928, John was the quintessential West Toledo Catholic boy, peddling the Toledo Times outside West Toledo factories and playing football and basketball while attending St. Agnes School and Central Catholic High School, which he graduated in 1946. After earning his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the then Toledo University, John served in the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps, where, as he was proud to tell his children, he managed the "highest-paid informant" in postwar Japan during the Korean War, a Japanese national he could only identify by his code name "B-9".
Just before leaving for the service, he met a stunning brunette, Marcia Zieman, whom he kept in constant contact with during his military service in Kobe, Japan, and married after his military service in September, 1953.
John graduated the Toledo University College of Law, and was admitted to the bar in 1959. As a criminal prosecutor in the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, John set the record for convictions vs. acquittals. He also excelled in the field of eminent domain law, proudly arguing, and winning a case before the Ohio Supreme Court, Bekos vs. Masheter in 1973, which made law and set precedent for compensating property owners whose property was taken for public projects such as road construction. John took that expertise to the City of Toledo Law Department, where he worked as an Assistant Law Director until 1985.
A short story of John's life would be too short without mentioning two things - golf and his sense of humor. John was famous among friends, family and co-workers for his extensive library of jokes at-the-ready. While a young teen, he and the other boys in his neighborhood took up some old golf clubs and began driving and chipping in their yards and neighborhood parks. During his high school years, John hitchhiked from his Five-Points neighborhood to work as a caddie at Sylvania Country Club, as an adult, he and his wife were longtime members of Heatherdowns Country Club.
John is survived by his loving wife of 59 and a half years, Marcia (Zieman); four extremely proud children, Marianne (Bill) Cochran, Joan (Marty) Hohenberger, Jim Harpen, Sharon (Ken) Hastings; six grandchildren, Erin (Matt) McNaughton, Molly Cochran, Katie (Brian Rule) Hohenberger, Nick Hohenberger, Connor, and Luke Hastings, and sister, Mary Helen (Harpen) Wright. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Walter Harpen.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 7, 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo, with a scripture service being held at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home Monday, April 8 at 9:15 a.m. followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Bellevue and Castlewood. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery.
The family requests any donations in John's honor be made to the Bishop Robert Donnelly Scholarship Fund at Central Catholic High School or Blessed Sacrament Parish.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Marsha, Just read about John's death. We are here in Arizona with our daughter Christine. Our most sincere condolences.Great man in so many walks of life. Our prayers are with you and yours. May the Spirit be with you. Roger & Lillian Peluso
April 12, 2013
Jim and family, you have my deepest sympathies and my thoughts.
Nicole McCue-Peckham
April 10, 2013
Jim, it's been a long time, but I knew your father well before you. God bless your family. You and yours stay well.
[email protected]
George Runner
April 9, 2013
My parents had great respect for your family, as does my family. Our thoughts are with you and we fondly remember the good times at HDCC.
Jim Harms and family
April 9, 2013
Marsha and the Harpen family, We missed seeing you this winter and are terribly saddened to learn of John's passing. Our condolences come to you with love. We treasure your friendship.
Ron & Barbara Ike
Ron & Barbara Ike
April 9, 2013
our prayers are with John and the family. He was a good friend. I still remember taking the bar exam with him.
joe o'conor
April 9, 2013
Jim,
I am so very sorry for your Family's loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Michele Paled
April 8, 2013
Sorry for your loss.
Ernest Jacob
San Leandro, CA
April 8, 2013
Dear Marcia and family.....My father (George Ryan) worked with John for many years in the City of Toledo Law Department. Dad always had such admiration and respect through those for John. Please accept our prayers and sympathy in your loss...Best Regards..George J. Ryan II and the entire Ryan family
George J. Ryan II
April 8, 2013
Dear Marcia and Family, Bill and I are sadden to hear of Johns passing. He was a great guy. Always enjoyed talking with you both at Devils Lake. You all are in our prayers.
Lynn(Lynda Kessler)and Bill Shambarger
April 8, 2013
Marcia
Jo & I were shocked to read about John's death. I heard he was in declining health but didn't realize the gravity of the situation. John and I go back to our days at St. Agnes. As you know better than anyone he was a truly humble man and loyal to a fault. The obituary says it all...a good husband, father and citizen. He will be missed by his family, friends and community.
Jim & Jo Pfeiffer
April 8, 2013
Dear Jim,Please accept my deepest sympathy to you & your family for the loss of your Father. Rose g.
Rose Giese
April 8, 2013
Marcia I was very sorry to hear that John had passed away. You and your family are in my prayers.
Susan Chinni-Billups
April 8, 2013
A close friend since the first grade at St. Agnes School! What a guy. . . one of a kind: Sensitive and hilarious, and with a wonderful wife and family. Told me some of the earliest jokes I ever heard, still remember and cannot repeat! So lucky to have known you, John. We all loved you. Jack Casey
April 7, 2013
Marcia and Family,
I worked with John when he was a member of the Law Department for the City of Toledo and will always remember morning coffee in the department conference room. You could always count on John for a couple of good stories a a few jokes. I'll always remember that smile of his. He was truly a wonderful person to be around. We'll miss him, but he left us with some great memories.
Michael Porter
April 7, 2013
You were a long time friend over the many seasons you spent "on the corner" at Tamarind on Manasota Key. You were sadly missed this year and will be remembered for many years to come. Our Love and condolences to Marcia and the whole family.
Anne & Michal Charlinski
April 7, 2013
Sorry to hear about John. Enjoyed our conversations with he and Marcia. Our sympathy and prayers are with Marcia and family.
Don and Rosalie Neece
April 7, 2013
Marcia, We missed you this winter at Tamarind! And now we learn you have lost your John. What can we say except how sorry we are and you are in our thoughts and prayers. Pete & Pat Schebler
April 6, 2013
Marcia and family, we were so sad to here of John's passing. We missed you both so much this winter. Gary likes to recall the time he saw John out early in the morning on his patio holding the newspaper up. Gary asked what if there was anything good in there and John replied that it was too dark to read it! He did have such a wonderful sense of humor. We will miss him always!! XOXOXO
Gary & Flo Kirsch
April 6, 2013
Jan and I send along our condolences to the entire Harpen family. Jim, your father certainly had an impressive and varied background. What a full life! When an interesting person lives such an interesting life the family often benefits from his or her experiences. God bless!
Tuffy Reason
April 6, 2013
We missed you and John in Florida this year. The corner at the beach was not the same. I always called John the morning mayor of the beach. He will be missed. Sid and Phyllis Herzberg
April 6, 2013
May he rest in peace. He and Marcia were very much missed this winter on Manasota Key. We also missed seeing their growing family. Our sympathy to John's family.
Connie and Phil Cross
April 6, 2013
Marcia, Barb and I are deeply saddened to hear of John's passing. We have great memories of him at Tamarind. Please accept our sympathy and know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Barb & Joe Forrey
April 6, 2013
Marcia, our thoughts are with you and your family at this time. We have fond memories of the times we had at HDCC. We loved John's jokes and sense of humor.
Tom and Judy Rogers
Surprise, Arizona
April 6, 2013
Dear Marsha, our thoughts and prayers go out to yiu and your family at this sad time. We missed you and John in Englewood this winter but understood your absence--it just wasn't the same walking to the beach. May your many memories give you much comfort in the days ahead. Lovingly, Phyllis & Sid Herzberg
April 6, 2013
Marcia, our thoughts are with you and your family. We have fond memories of our friendship with you and John at HeatherDownsCC. We loved his jokes and sense of humor.
Tom and Judy Rohers
Surprise, Arizona
April 6, 2013
To John's dear family: Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow. What a great man; Husband, father, grandfather and a person who cared.....
Dean Z
April 6, 2013
Dear Family I'm so sorry for the of lost of your love one may the many fond memories bring you peace and comfort, and may the God of all Comfort be with you and give you peace.
R H
April 6, 2013
Marcia and family,
Please accept our sympathies on the passing of John.
Don & Ruth Smith, Apollo Beach, FL
April 6, 2013
Marcia, We have fond memories of you and John as part of our HDCC "family". We will keep you in our prayers. Fondly,
Larry & Connie Hudson
April 6, 2013
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