Paul Michael Harkenrider

PAUL M. HARKENRIDER CALUMET CITY, IL Paul Michael Harkenrider, age 61, passed away peacefully at home on February, 14 2014, surrounded by family and love. He was born on June 7, 1952, in Elkhart, IN, to Paul Roy and Anna Clare Harkenrider, the first of their eleven children. Paul grew up in Lansing and attended St. Ann School, Bishop Noll Institute, and Northern Illinois University. Retired from Inland Steel, Paul had also worked at LaSalle Steel and the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, and was a member of the Sons of the American Legion and the United Steel Workers. Preceded in death by his father; brother, Michael; brother-in- law, Bobby; first-cousins: Billy, Greg, and Pat; and many more family and friends. Paul is survived by his mother; and nine siblings: Daniel, Mary (Stephen Yokich), John, Teresa (Steve Spicer), Katrina Corse, Angela (Bill) Kvasnica, Margreta, Thomas (Silvia), Matthew (Ann). He also leaves behind 12 nieces and nephews: Johnny, Mike, Joe, Linnae, Billy, Amanda, Matthew, Kevin, Eileen, Paul, Katie, and Hazel; great-nephews: Matthew, Patrick, and Nathan; and new great-niece: Lucille Rose. Also survived by aunt, Maxine Harkenrider and many cousins and friends. Paul will be remembered for his unassuming, generous, and loving spirit; for a quiet faith seen in his love of neighbor and creation; for a ceaseless devotion to his parents and younger siblings; for his love of animals (dog/wolves) and nature (gardening, fishing, skiing, biking in the woods to look for deer); for his prowess as a cook (always ready to try a new recipe or to offer critiques of other's cooking attempts); for his ability to strike up a conversation and make fast friends with those he met; for being a night-owl who fancied himself quite a dancer; and as a guy who enjoyed a beer and a smoke. Special thanks to Scott, Debbie, and Nancy for helping with Paul's comfort care. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at Our Lady of Knock Catholic Church in Calumet City, with Rev. Patrick M. Lyons officiating. Visitation with family will be in church on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. Interment at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood immediately follows Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Knock Church, 501 163rd St., Calumet City, IL 60409; or to Loretto Convent, P.O. Box 508, Wheaton, IL 60189.