John E. H. Harder, age 88 of Merrill passed away January 24, 2024, at Mt View Nursing Home. John was born December 7, 1935, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to the late Walter and Alida (Plante) Harder.
John served 20 years in the United States Air Force as a Mechanic from August of 1955 to July of 1975. He was first stationed in Wendover Air Force Base, Utah for school. Then he went to McChord AFB near Tacoma, Washington, Luke AFB, Glendale, AZ. While stationed in AZ John was sent to Cam Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam. Last place he was stationed was Pope AFB in Fort Bragg, NC. John was also stationed in Reinheim, Germany and in Thule Air Base, Greenland.
When he retired in 1975, he moved his family back to Wisconsin. He first worked for Lincoln Wood Products as a Mechanic. He retired from LWP but worked part time at Dave’s County Market, Napa Auto Parts and Kwik Trip. John was also a member of the VFW.
John enjoyed fishing, playing cribbage, smoking cigars, listening to music, building airplane models and going to the EAA airplane show in Oshkosh. Mostly he loved spending time with his family.
John is survived by one half-brother Kurt Braun, Merrill; three sons, Lyndon Harder and Derek (Mary) Harder both of Merrill; and J (Sherry) Harder of Rhinelander; two daughters, Denise (Mark) Rehwinkel and Nicolette Barnett both of Merrill; 16 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. John is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline; daughter, Paulette Pinegar; brothers, Jared and Denis Harder; and sister, Lenore ‘Bubbles’ Polowski.
The funeral service for John will begin at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill. The Rev. Greg Laska will officiate. The burial will take place in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery with graveside military rites conducted by V.F.W. Post 1638, Merrill. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Monday, January 29, 2024, and again after 10:00 am Tuesday all at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com