Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

SBT – October 21, 2002

Milton H. Harke

July 2, 1910 - Oct. 19, 2002

Milton Harms Harke, 92, of South Bend, IN, passed away after a short illness on Saturday, October 19, 2002 in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Indiana. Milton was born on July 2, 1910 to Robert F. and Mary (Harms) Harke in Whiting, Indiana.

On September 4, 1937, after seven years of courtship, in South Bend at St. Paul's Lutheran Church he married Helen Irene Bloomfield, who survives. Since their marriage, they have been active members at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They recently celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

Milton moved from Whiting to a farm on Roosevelt Road in Greene Township with his family when he was ten years old. He attended Concordia High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana for two years and then graduated from Central High School, South Bend, in 1929.

He received his B.A. degree in Social Studies from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1934. Summers were spent at Columbia University in New York City, where he received his Masters Degree in Educational Administration in 1938.

He began his teaching career at the former Washington-Clay High School on Darden Road, South Bend, in 1934 with a beginning annual salary of $800.00. He became principal of that school in 1947, and remained in that position until 1961. He then returned to teaching Social Studies until his retirement in 1975, culminating 41 years in education to the students of Clay Township. During his lifetime as an educator he was an active member of Phi Delta Kappa educational fraternity, and South Bend Lions Club.

Milton and Helen have kept young with traveling to all 50 states and 25 countries. During his retirement years they received great pleasure in attending Clay High School football and basketball games. Their greatest enjoyment, recently, has been attending class reunions of Washington-Clay High School. Reuniting and reminiscing with past students has been a constant joy to their lives.

Family has always been important to them as they were still hosting holiday gatherings until 2000. In the summers he enjoyed nurturing and caring for his home garden, sharing the fruits of his labor with family and neighbors. They have remained independent and self sufficient all their lives.

He was preceded in death by his sister Dorothy Elizabeth Harke and his brother Clarence Robert Harke.

Along with his wife of 65 years, he is survived by a daughter, Janice (her husband Richard preceded in death) Jozwiak of West Lafayette, IN; and a son, Robert (Sherry) Harke of South Bend, IN. He has four grandchildren who survive, Julie (Sean) Jozwiak-Rice of Indianapolis, IN; Tamara (Steve) Harke-Bradley of South Bend, IN; David (Lelia) Jozwiak of Brookston, IN; Kirsten (James) Galasso of Edwardsburg, MI; and six great-grandchildren, Joshua and Johnathon Rice; Nicholas and Jacob Galasso; and Matthew and Eric Bradley.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 22, 2002 in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN, with Pastor Gregory K. Fiechtner officiating. Burial will follow in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend.

Friends and family may call from 3-8 p.m. Monday, October 21, 2002 in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, IN, and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday, October 22, 2002.

Memorial Contributions in memory of Milton may be donated to: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN 46637.