Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Ervin Harder DMD Obituary
Dr. Harder died Friday, February 14, 2014. Memorial Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the First Christian Church. Dr. L.R. Veatch and Rev. Steve Barker will officiate. Visitation will be Monday evening 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church. The Smith Funeral Home and Chapel, in Hannibal is in charge of arrangements.
Ervin W. Harder grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated in 1953 from Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School. After graduating college at Central Methodist College, Erv attended Washington University School of Dental Medicine graduating in 1960. After dental school he enlisted as a Captain in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Mather AFB in Sacramento, California. Upon discharge from the Air Force in 1962, Dr. Harder moved back to Missouri and began a lifetime of professional dental care by purchasing a dental practice in Hannibal, Missouri from Dr. Lawrence W. Craigmiles.
Dr. Harder quickly became very active in the community. He was a member and President of the Hannibal Jaycees. He was the cofounder and President of the Northeast Missouri Sheltered Workshop, which provides employment for many physically and mentally challenged people in the Hannibal Area. He was a member of the Hannibal Chamber of Commerce, served as President of the Board and also received the Pacesetter Award in 1974. In 1967 he and Helen and several partners also created the Twainland Express tour train for visitors in Hannibal.
Dr. Harder?s contribution to the Northeast Missouri area was noted also by the number of Boards on which he served. He was Board member for the Hannibal Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Hannibal School of Practical Nursing, The Northeast Region of the American Red Cross and most recently the Hannibal Board of Public Works. Dr. Harder also served on the Board of Directors for the Hannibal YMCA for 10 years, serving as President during the period when the current YMCA facility was built in 1981. He was also an avid user of the YMCA?s pool, swimming daily, and swimming competitively in the US Masters? Swimming organization.
Dr. Harder was a member of the Hannibal Public School District Board of Education for almost 20 years, serving as President of the School Board from 1983 to 1998.
Dr. Harder was a member of the Hannibal Regional Hospital Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Board during the establishment of the new Hannibal Regional Hospital from 1991-1995. He was also a member and chairman of the Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, the Hannibal Regional Hospital Foundation and the New Era Healthcare Foundation. He recently established the dental program at the Hannibal Free Clinic.
In Missouri statewide service, Dr. Harder was appointed by the governor in 1994 to the Missouri Ethics Commission, serving as Vice Chairman from 1995 until his term ended in 1998.
In professional life as a dentist, Dr. Harder, Dr. Duane Thomas and Dr. Blaine Thomas formed Hannibal Dental Group in 1974, moving to its current location at 2727 St. Mary?s Ave in 1990 when they joined with Dr. David Jackson. In 1991, his son Dr. Paul Harder joined the practice and Dr. Harder was proud to work with his son for 23 years. In 2009, Dr. Joshua Ricker joined Hannibal Dental Group when Dr. Harder retired.
Dr. Harder was the Chief of Dental Services for St. Elizabeth Hospital from 1969 until it merged with levering Hospital in 1980 creating the new Hannibal Regional Hospital. He then continued serving as a dentist on staff of the new hospital. He was a member of the American Dental Association, Missouri Dental Association, Northeast Missouri Dental Association, Great River Dental Study Club, and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Harder also was bestowed a great honor of being elected into the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.
He was appointed by the governor to the Missouri Dental Board in 1988 until 1995, serving as president in 1991. In a related capacity, Dr. Harder was an Examiner for the Centeral Regional Dental Testing Service, a dental license examination for the Midwest, from 1990-1996, serving as Chief Examiner in 1994.
In his spare time, Dr. Harder attended Northeast Missouri State University (Truman University) and received a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology degree in 1980. He provided occasional hypnosis therapy for smoking cessation. He has mentored and provided informal counseling and support for many peoples.
He became skilled in pistol marksmanship and he attended several pistol marksmanship competitions. Dr. Harder was a civil war enthusiast and interested in military aviation. He enjoyed classical music, opera, learning new languages, traveling, and was an avid reader. Erv and Helen traveled with a wonderful group of friends throughout Europe, China, Australia, and North and South America
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hannibal Regional Hospital Foundation, the Hannibal Free Clinic or to the charity of the donor?s choice, in care of Smith Funeral Home and Chapel.
Online condolences can be offered to the family at www.smithfuneralhomeandchapel.com
Memories and Condolences
for Ervin Harder DMD
February 18, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Dr. Harder will be greatly missed.
Lindell, Lydia, and Johanna Shumake
David & Faye Bleigh
February 18, 2014
I feel your sadness during this time and pray that God continues to watch over you. Erv will be missed by many in our community. Each of us has a memory or two of personal experiences with him. David was always proud that he was one of Erv's first patients and I felt indebted to him during my first pregnancy when my jaw dislocated and he painlessly put it right back in place. His dedication to his patients, family and community was an inspiration to all of us. He will forever hold a place in our hearts.
February 17, 2014
Helen, Paul, Cheryl & Family
Our thoughts & prayers are with in this time of bereavement. We held Erv in the highest esteem and know he will be deeply missed.
Sincerely,
Ron & Linda Verdier
Tammie Turner
February 17, 2014
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. I know this is a very difficult time for all of you but remember all of the great memories that you have and they will help you through these next few weeks. He was a great man.
Sharon LLoyd
February 17, 2014
Paul, I send you and your family my deepest sympathy. Your father was always such a happy, pleasant and energetic man when I saw him at the clinic. He will be greatly missed by many people.
Tana, Chris and Megan Akright
February 17, 2014
Dr. Harder was our dentist for years and when my daughter Megan began going to the dentist always looked forward to Dr. Harder taking care of her teeth from when she was old enough to sit in the chair to being a grown woman. He will be missed not only as a professional but a true friend to many.
Robert Cumings
February 17, 2014
Dear Harder Family, please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of Dr. Harder. I had the privilege of serving on the board of director with him at the Northeast Missouri Sheltered Workshop for the past three years. Our prayers are with you all during this difficult time. His generosity and dedication to the community where he served will be greatly missed.
GOD BLESS Dr. Harder.
Debbie Hedrick
February 17, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. Dr. Harder was my dentist for over 40 years. I first met him when I worked at Clayton Federal Savings. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.
Christina Ha
February 16, 2014
Dr. Harder was an amazing clinician as well as an important part of our lives. He has always been a source of support for our family, his kind and encouraging words during our routine office visits and brief hometown stays providing additional motivation to keep pursuing our goals within the field of medicine and beyond. We are tremendously fortunate and grateful for everything Dr. Harder and the Harder family has done for us and will always remember the memories of him with great fondness. Thank you for everything.
Richard, Jeong, Edward and Tina
Jo Johnson
February 16, 2014
Dr. Harder was really one of a kind. I feel so blessed that I had the privilege of working for him. He was such a compassionate, caring and brilliant doctor. Always there to listen and give advice. My prayers are with you Helen, Hollie and Paul.
Juanita and Dick Rampy
February 16, 2014
Helen, Hollie and Paul and families. Dick and I send our sincere sympathy to you in this time of loss. Erv was our dentist and friend for the 37 years that we lived in Hannibal. He was a fine man, a great community leader, and friend to many. You are in our thoughts and prayers dear friends. May the Lord surround you with his strength and comfort.
Katherine Griffen
February 15, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss. Dr. Harder was my mother's dentist for years and she thought the world of him. I know he will be missed. My prayers are with your family.
Wanda & Bradley McPike
February 15, 2014
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Erv was our family Dentist until he retired. Your family are in our prayers.
Rebecca Reeder
February 15, 2014
Paul and family, I'm sorry for you dad's loss. He was a nice man and will be missed in Hannibal. May God comfort you and bless you all.
Dorothy Claggett
February 15, 2014
Dear Helen, Hollie, Paul and Family,
I was sorry to hear of your loss. He was such a nice man and Hugh was also fond of him. Hugh had been a patient and they also visited at the Y. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Michael Dobson
February 15, 2014
My sympathy to the family. I began seeing "Doc" as my dentist when my family moved to Hannibal in 1969. Later in life I had the privilege to work with him through the Hannibal City government and his term at the Board of Public Works. The community has lost a true treasure.
Gale Newman
February 14, 2014
I share a portion of your grief with the loss of a good and long time friend. He left all of us with good memories for having known him.
Showing 1 - 17 of 17 results