Obituary for Richard Bell Harnack
Richard Bell Harnack, age 85, of Mount Laurel, NJ passed away while surrounded by loving family on Thursday, August 27, 2020.
Richard was born in East Brady, PA before moving to Mount Laurel 59 years ago. He served his country honorably with the US Navy. Richard was extremely proud of his two sons and grandson who have maintained the US Navy tradition in the family.
Richard attended college utilizing the GI bill where he received a Bachelor’s degree from California State College and a Master’s degree in Education from Rutgers University. He was a passionate teacher of the industrial arts for 29 years with a career that culminated with the New Jersey Department of Education. He retired in 1990 to pursue his two passions of sailing and woodworking. His summers were spent sailing Barnegat Bay with his family on his prized possession, a 1978 Tartan 34 classic sailboat with his family. When he was not sailing you would find him in his woodshop. Through his business, Chairman of the Boards, he created and sold his wood creations at the Rancocas Woods craft shows.
He will be deeply missed by those whose life he touched.
Richard is survived by his beloved spouse, Margaret Harnack (nee Stuempfle); children, Lauren, Todd, Kurt; grandchildren, Samantha, Eric, Kyle, Richard, Virginia and is pre deceased by grandson Thomas Joseph (TJ).
At the request of the family, funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions in Richard’s name may be made to Samaritan Health Care & Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053 or to his grandson’s foundation at Thomas Joseph Franzese Foundation, 28 Cedar Drive, Allendale, NJ 07401.
Richard was born in East Brady, PA before moving to Mount Laurel 59 years ago. He served his country honorably with the US Navy. Richard was extremely proud of his two sons and grandson who have maintained the US Navy tradition in the family.
Richard attended college utilizing the GI bill where he received a Bachelor’s degree from California State College and a Master’s degree in Education from Rutgers University. He was a passionate teacher of the industrial arts for 29 years with a career that culminated with the New Jersey Department of Education. He retired in 1990 to pursue his two passions of sailing and woodworking. His summers were spent sailing Barnegat Bay with his family on his prized possession, a 1978 Tartan 34 classic sailboat with his family. When he was not sailing you would find him in his woodshop. Through his business, Chairman of the Boards, he created and sold his wood creations at the Rancocas Woods craft shows.
He will be deeply missed by those whose life he touched.
Richard is survived by his beloved spouse, Margaret Harnack (nee Stuempfle); children, Lauren, Todd, Kurt; grandchildren, Samantha, Eric, Kyle, Richard, Virginia and is pre deceased by grandson Thomas Joseph (TJ).
At the request of the family, funeral services will be private. Memorial contributions in Richard’s name may be made to Samaritan Health Care & Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053 or to his grandson’s foundation at Thomas Joseph Franzese Foundation, 28 Cedar Drive, Allendale, NJ 07401.