Joseph Douglas Harkin

JOSEPH DOUGLAS HARKIN "Doug" Highland, Indiana Age 84, of Highland, IN, passed away peacefully Friday, December 21, 2007 at Hartsfield Village in Munster. Born July 21, 1923 in Kokomo, IN, Doug was the son of the late Michael and Bertha (nee Lentner) Harkin. He and his lifelong sweetheart, Cecelia (nee LaMotte), were wed in Lowell, IN on September 29, 1946 and made their first home in Hammond, IN. Doug owned and operated Harkin Poultry Company on Calumet Avenue in Hammond. In 1954, Doug obtained his real estate license and embarked on a career on real estate sales and appraisal that lasted over 50 years. He co-founded Harkin & Taylor Realty Company in 1960, later Harkin Realty Company, and operated from 5719 Hohman Avenue in Hammond since 1970. However, Doug's greatest and favorite endeavor was as owner/operator of the Village Flea Market on Ridge Road in Gary, IN which closed in 1997. Doug was also very active in the Highland and Lake County Republican Party, serving as precinct committeeman for over 18 years, and was nominated to run for the office of U.S. Congressman in 1974 and 1978. Surviving to mourn Doug's passing are his loving wife, Cecelia; daughter, Cassandra Bleau of Hammond, son. Judge Jeffrey (Kathleen) Harkin of Hammond, son. Kevin (Jean) Harkin of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter, Shannon (Wayne) Gawlik of Highland, brother, Michael Harkin of Hammond; nine grandchildren: Sarah (Jerry) Levin of Denver, CO, Maggie Bleau of Chicago, Barbara (Joseph) Coffman of Irmo, SC, Justyn (Catherine) Harkin of Chicago, Jeremy (Lynne) Harkin of Lake Zurich, IL, Jeffrey Harkin of Hoffman Estates, IL, Michael Bleau of Hammond, Jacob Harkin of Highlands Ranch, CO, Melissa Gawlik of Highland, IN; three great-grandchildren: Isabelle Levin, Ryan Harkin, and Julian Levin; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 from 4-7 PM at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Road (2 blocks south of Ridge Rd.), Highland, Indiana. Doug was a member of St. James the Less Roman Catholic Church in Highland where he ushered for many years. He was a World War II Marine veteran and a member of American Legion Post 16 in Hammond. Doug was active for many years with the Highland Lions Club. He was an active member of the Hammond Businessmen's Fraternity Phi Delta Kappa. Doug coached boys softball in Highland, was active with the Boy Scouts and was a big supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Doug was always willing to provide his views of the world and means to improve through his hundreds of letters to the editors of the Times and the Post Tribune. In lieu of Flowers, contributions can be made to either the Salvation Army or Pi Epsilon Kappa Roman Catholic Women's Sorority.