Obituary for Kenneth Hardner
Kenneth G. Hardner, age 97, of Erie, passed away on Saturday, February 26th, 2022 at Sarah Reed Senior Living.
Ken was born on July 8th, 1924, the eldest ofnine children born to the late Rufus and Theresa Trapp Hardner. In 1949, Ken married Camille “Kay” Grimaldi and enjoyed a lifetime of happiness before she passed in 2018, just shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Ken was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was, and will always be, deeply admired by his generations of descendants for his unwavering love, charity, faith, and wry sense of humor. Ken was foremost a man of principle that led quietly and by example. He taught his children and grandchildren to be compassionate parents, as well as the value of charity and the meaning of a life well spent.
As a younger man, Ken served in the Army during WWII and was the recipient of both the Purple Heart and the Oak Leaf Cluster medals. Ken was always known for being a hard worker: first running his own business with his brother, then was employed by the City of Erie, and last the US Postal Service from which he retired in 1986.
Ken loved baseball and was a talented player in high school. He continued to be an avid sports enthusiast throughout his life playing softball, bowling, horseshoes, and was a force to be reckoned with on the tennis court.
Once retired, Ken devoted his time to his family, church, and his love of watching baseball. In addition to enjoying sports and attending their grandchildren’s events, Ken and Kay loved to gather with their neighborhood gang, camp, play chicken foot, read books, and watch late night television until 2am. Ken loved to play cribbage and cards and had a standing family tradition for over 30 years playing pinochle on Thursday nights.
Our family will hold close his memory and will continue to look for him where he was often found: on the porch swing of his home, working contentedly on his current puzzle, or reading a book.
In addition to his wife, Kay Hardner, and his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his sister Lois Paradise and his 4 brothers: Jerry, Jim, John, and Tom.
He is survived by his five children, Keith Hardner (Sharon), Kirk Hardner (Jean), Kimberly Fontecchio (John), Koreen Bradley (Timothy), and Kyle Hardner (Anne). His 12 grandchildren, Sarah (Jamey), Leah, Adam (Kim), Brian (Kelly), Paul (Meredith), Carla (David), Neil (Melissa), Maureen (Daniel), Leane (Adam), Nick, Lauren, and Rachel. His 17 great-grandchildren, his three brothers: Jeff, Tim (Andrea), and Chris (Marsha), his sister in law Toni (Ralph), brother in law Michael (Laurie), several nieces and nephews, and his lifelong friend, Jack Greene.
The family would like to express extreme gratitude to the staff at Sarah Reed Senior Living and VNA Hospice for their patient, kind and loving care given to Ken in his final months, and to Dennis Coan for his unwavering pastoral visits.
Friends may call on Thursday from 4pm - 6pm at the Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home, located at 2502 Sassafras St. Erie, PA. 16502 and are invited to attend his funeral service at the same location on Friday at 10:15am.
A funeral mass is to follow at St. John the Baptist Church at 11am.
Please send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com Ken will be laid to rest in Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VNA Hospice or the Emmaus Ministries.
Ken was born on July 8th, 1924, the eldest ofnine children born to the late Rufus and Theresa Trapp Hardner. In 1949, Ken married Camille “Kay” Grimaldi and enjoyed a lifetime of happiness before she passed in 2018, just shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Ken was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was, and will always be, deeply admired by his generations of descendants for his unwavering love, charity, faith, and wry sense of humor. Ken was foremost a man of principle that led quietly and by example. He taught his children and grandchildren to be compassionate parents, as well as the value of charity and the meaning of a life well spent.
As a younger man, Ken served in the Army during WWII and was the recipient of both the Purple Heart and the Oak Leaf Cluster medals. Ken was always known for being a hard worker: first running his own business with his brother, then was employed by the City of Erie, and last the US Postal Service from which he retired in 1986.
Ken loved baseball and was a talented player in high school. He continued to be an avid sports enthusiast throughout his life playing softball, bowling, horseshoes, and was a force to be reckoned with on the tennis court.
Once retired, Ken devoted his time to his family, church, and his love of watching baseball. In addition to enjoying sports and attending their grandchildren’s events, Ken and Kay loved to gather with their neighborhood gang, camp, play chicken foot, read books, and watch late night television until 2am. Ken loved to play cribbage and cards and had a standing family tradition for over 30 years playing pinochle on Thursday nights.
Our family will hold close his memory and will continue to look for him where he was often found: on the porch swing of his home, working contentedly on his current puzzle, or reading a book.
In addition to his wife, Kay Hardner, and his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his sister Lois Paradise and his 4 brothers: Jerry, Jim, John, and Tom.
He is survived by his five children, Keith Hardner (Sharon), Kirk Hardner (Jean), Kimberly Fontecchio (John), Koreen Bradley (Timothy), and Kyle Hardner (Anne). His 12 grandchildren, Sarah (Jamey), Leah, Adam (Kim), Brian (Kelly), Paul (Meredith), Carla (David), Neil (Melissa), Maureen (Daniel), Leane (Adam), Nick, Lauren, and Rachel. His 17 great-grandchildren, his three brothers: Jeff, Tim (Andrea), and Chris (Marsha), his sister in law Toni (Ralph), brother in law Michael (Laurie), several nieces and nephews, and his lifelong friend, Jack Greene.
The family would like to express extreme gratitude to the staff at Sarah Reed Senior Living and VNA Hospice for their patient, kind and loving care given to Ken in his final months, and to Dennis Coan for his unwavering pastoral visits.
Friends may call on Thursday from 4pm - 6pm at the Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home, located at 2502 Sassafras St. Erie, PA. 16502 and are invited to attend his funeral service at the same location on Friday at 10:15am.
A funeral mass is to follow at St. John the Baptist Church at 11am.
Please send condolences to www.kloeckerfuneralhome.com Ken will be laid to rest in Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VNA Hospice or the Emmaus Ministries.