It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved John Richard Harden, age 76, who left us peacefully surrounded by his family on March 27, 2026.

John was born on January 7, 1950, to Orville Clyde and Anabel Miriam Harden (Dodge). He grew up in Tolono, Illinois, the youngest of four children. From a young age, John developed a love for the outdoors and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He attended Unity High School, graduating in 1968, where he was a standout athlete. John proudly played quarterback for the Unity Rockets football team and played center on the basketball team. He continued his football career at Millikin University while earning a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. Years later, he was inducted into the Unity Rockets Hall of Fame.

John began his professional career at Laclede Steel Company in Alton, Illinois, and later transferred to Laclede in Memphis, Tennessee. He eventually moved his family to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he continued his career at Nucor Fastener in St. Joe, Indiana, working faithfully there until his retirement.

In January of 1974, during a blizzard in St. Louis, Missouri, John met the love of his life, Margaret Mary Tracey. They were married on September 20, 1975, at the Forest Park Jewel Box, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love, laughter, and devotion. Together, they built a beautiful family and raised five children.

John had a deep passion for the outdoors and cherished time spent camping and canoeing on the Current River in the Ozarks, creating countless memories with his children and grandchildren. He was actively involved in his community through the Knights of Columbus and CRHP, and he generously gave his time coaching his sons in baseball, football, and basketball. He was also an avid fan of the Indy 500, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Saint Francis Cougars, the Xavier Musketeers, and a lifelong supporter of University of Illinois Illini football and basketball.

He also loved continued travel with his wife Margie and close friends, with one of their favorite trips being a memorable journey to Ireland in 2019. In retirement, John and Margie spent their winters in Destin, Florida, a place he dearly loved.

John will be remembered for his strength, kindness, faith, and unwavering love for his family. His legacy lives on in the lives of those he touched, and he will be especially remembered for his wonderful sense of humor and for being an amazing mentor to many throughout his life.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Orville Clyde and Anabel Miriam Harden, and his siblings Joan, Judy (Jerry), and Steve (Ros), and is survived by his wife, Margie; his children Bradley (Melissa), Wesley, Zachary (Arika), Michael (Sydney), and Katherine (Jerrod); his cherished grandchildren Madison, Alexia, Masen, Alyvia, Makayla, Macey, Connor, Sophia, Ava, Frost, Ryan, and Morgan; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He will be deeply missed and forever loved.

A service to celebrate John’s life will be held at Saint Vincent’s de Paul Catholic Church on April 17th. Visitation will be from 10am—12pm with Mass beginning at 12 pm.

The family kindly requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Eleos Hospice, whose compassionate care brought comfort to John in his final days or the National Eagle Scouts of America to help other young men achieve their Eagle Scout Certification.