Obituary for John "Jack" R. Harkins
John R. “Jack” Harkins, 79, of Mount Pleasant died on Wednesday, January 23, in his home. Jack was born July 14, 1939, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He was a life-long resident of Mt. Pleasant, a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School and earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree at Central Michigan University. On June 14, 1965, Jack married his wife Constance and started a family. He spent the rest of his life giving back to the community he loved.
Jack was proud to be a 50-year employee and eventual President and co-owner of Lease Management, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant. During his long career, Jack was involved in numerous civic and business organizations, including the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees (VP 1975), Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (President 1978), Mt. Pleasant Industrial Development (President 1986-87), Isabella County United Way Drive Chair 1981, Middle Michigan Development Corp., Michigan Oil & Gas Association (Chair 1990-91), City of Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission, Woodland Hospice Board, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board, and the Museum of Cultural and Natural History at Central Michigan University Board (Chair). In 2010 Jack started the Harkins Community Fund in memory of his beloved wife, Connie, to support projects benefitting all residents of the Mt. Pleasant area, most recently schoolchildren who would not otherwise be able to visit the Museum of Cultural and Natural History.
For the past eight years, Jack was blessed to spend his life with his life partner Cheryl Bennett of Mt. Pleasant. During those years, Jack and Cheryl traveled between Michigan and Florida, creating treasured memories with family members and friends. Every night Jack sang to Cheryl, usually an original composition, much to the delight of everyone who had a chance to hear it, but mostly to Cheryl whom he loved very much.
Jack was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, and a supporter of numerous charities including the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, the Central Michigan University Museum, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents Richard and Eileen Harkins, and his wife, Constance. He is survived by his children Elizabeth (Rich) Meade of Falls Church, VA, Christia (David) Hitesman of Mt. Prospect, IL, John Harkins of Savannah, GA and his sister, Ann Walker of Lake City. He leaves behind his partner of eight years Cheryl Bennett and her children Bill (Amy) Bennett, Jeff (Meg) Bennett, Leanne (Pat) Carey, and Dan (Laurenda) Bennett. He will be missed dearly by all of the grandchildren he loved: Constance, Paul, Louise and Marianne Meade; William, Bennett and Elizabeth Hitesman; Kes, Elle and RaVell Bennett; Abby and Maggie Carey; Grayson and Graham Bennett; and Sawyer and Sutton Bennett.
A Memorial Mass for Jack will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church of Mt. Pleasant with Father Loren Kalinowski officiating on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. The Harkins and Bennett families will receive friends on Monday, January 28, from 5-9 p.m. at Clark Family Funeral Chapel of Mt. Pleasant and on Tuesday, January 29, from 10-11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Committal will be held at Calvary Cemetery immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Harkins Community Fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and/or the Museum of Cultural and Natural History of Central Michigan University. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel and the church.
Jack was proud to be a 50-year employee and eventual President and co-owner of Lease Management, Inc. in Mt. Pleasant. During his long career, Jack was involved in numerous civic and business organizations, including the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees (VP 1975), Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce (President 1978), Mt. Pleasant Industrial Development (President 1986-87), Isabella County United Way Drive Chair 1981, Middle Michigan Development Corp., Michigan Oil & Gas Association (Chair 1990-91), City of Mt. Pleasant Planning Commission, Woodland Hospice Board, the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation Board, and the Museum of Cultural and Natural History at Central Michigan University Board (Chair). In 2010 Jack started the Harkins Community Fund in memory of his beloved wife, Connie, to support projects benefitting all residents of the Mt. Pleasant area, most recently schoolchildren who would not otherwise be able to visit the Museum of Cultural and Natural History.
For the past eight years, Jack was blessed to spend his life with his life partner Cheryl Bennett of Mt. Pleasant. During those years, Jack and Cheryl traveled between Michigan and Florida, creating treasured memories with family members and friends. Every night Jack sang to Cheryl, usually an original composition, much to the delight of everyone who had a chance to hear it, but mostly to Cheryl whom he loved very much.
Jack was a member of Sacred Heart Parish, and a supporter of numerous charities including the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, the Central Michigan University Museum, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and the National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents Richard and Eileen Harkins, and his wife, Constance. He is survived by his children Elizabeth (Rich) Meade of Falls Church, VA, Christia (David) Hitesman of Mt. Prospect, IL, John Harkins of Savannah, GA and his sister, Ann Walker of Lake City. He leaves behind his partner of eight years Cheryl Bennett and her children Bill (Amy) Bennett, Jeff (Meg) Bennett, Leanne (Pat) Carey, and Dan (Laurenda) Bennett. He will be missed dearly by all of the grandchildren he loved: Constance, Paul, Louise and Marianne Meade; William, Bennett and Elizabeth Hitesman; Kes, Elle and RaVell Bennett; Abby and Maggie Carey; Grayson and Graham Bennett; and Sawyer and Sutton Bennett.
A Memorial Mass for Jack will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church of Mt. Pleasant with Father Loren Kalinowski officiating on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. The Harkins and Bennett families will receive friends on Monday, January 28, from 5-9 p.m. at Clark Family Funeral Chapel of Mt. Pleasant and on Tuesday, January 29, from 10-11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Committal will be held at Calvary Cemetery immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Harkins Community Fund of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and/or the Museum of Cultural and Natural History of Central Michigan University. Envelopes will be available at the funeral chapel and the church.