Mr. Harvath was born March 21, 1917, in Ashland, Ohio, to Louis and Joan Harvath. He was very active in high school football and, after graduating, enjoyed playing softball in church leagues and later in military softball leagues.
He served in the U.S. Army infantry in the Pacific during World War II, and in Korea during the Korean conflict. He was awarded various medals during numerous combat engagements. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star With Oak Leaf Cluster for his leadership while near enemy lines. He and his men rebuilt a partially destroyed bridge in one night so that American forces could use the structure. After returning to the United States, Joe enjoyed competition shooting on military rifle teams.
He moved to Alaska in 1960, with his former wife June and lived in Cooper Landing until 1961. They moved to Anchorage and Mr. Harvath worked at Elmendorf Air Force Base until he retired in 1989.
After retirement, he returned to his cabin at Cooper Landing and enjoyed the peace and solitude of the community and growing potatoes in his garden. He also donated his time to help build St. John Newmann Catholic Church at Cooper Landing.
Mr. Harvath is survived by his sisters, Veronica Harvath and Margrete Negrete; sister-in-law, Ruth Harvath of Ashland; sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Karla of Tacoma, Wash., and John and Joyce of Anchorage; grandchildren and their spouses, John of Anchorage, Angela of Lawton, Okla., Joey and Izumi of Fukuoka, Japan, Jackie and Kirby Philpott and Jerri and Gary Soper; great-grandchildren, Devon Jacokes, Matthew and Jessi Harvath, Cassi, Megan and Heather Philpott, Cody Soper, Nashiki and Renatro Kinoshita; and extended family members, Margaret and Janet of Anchorage, Don and Becky Turner of Cooper Landing, and Larry and Amy Smithhisler of Nome.
He served in the U.S. Army infantry in the Pacific during World War II, and in Korea during the Korean conflict. He was awarded various medals during numerous combat engagements. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star With Oak Leaf Cluster for his leadership while near enemy lines. He and his men rebuilt a partially destroyed bridge in one night so that American forces could use the structure. After returning to the United States, Joe enjoyed competition shooting on military rifle teams.
He moved to Alaska in 1960, with his former wife June and lived in Cooper Landing until 1961. They moved to Anchorage and Mr. Harvath worked at Elmendorf Air Force Base until he retired in 1989.
After retirement, he returned to his cabin at Cooper Landing and enjoyed the peace and solitude of the community and growing potatoes in his garden. He also donated his time to help build St. John Newmann Catholic Church at Cooper Landing.
Mr. Harvath is survived by his sisters, Veronica Harvath and Margrete Negrete; sister-in-law, Ruth Harvath of Ashland; sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Karla of Tacoma, Wash., and John and Joyce of Anchorage; grandchildren and their spouses, John of Anchorage, Angela of Lawton, Okla., Joey and Izumi of Fukuoka, Japan, Jackie and Kirby Philpott and Jerri and Gary Soper; great-grandchildren, Devon Jacokes, Matthew and Jessi Harvath, Cassi, Megan and Heather Philpott, Cody Soper, Nashiki and Renatro Kinoshita; and extended family members, Margaret and Janet of Anchorage, Don and Becky Turner of Cooper Landing, and Larry and Amy Smithhisler of Nome.
Mr. Harvath was born March 21, 1917, in Ashland, Ohio, to Louis and Joan Harvath. He was very active in high school football and, after graduating, enjoyed playing softball in church leagues and later in military softball leagues.
He served in the U.S. Army infantry in the Pacific during World War II, and in Korea during the Korean conflict. He was awarded various medals during numerous combat engagements. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star With Oak Leaf Cluster for his leadership while near enemy lines. He and his men rebuilt a partially destroyed bridge in one night so that American forces could use the structure. After returning to the United States, Joe enjoyed competition shooting on military rifle teams.
He moved to Alaska in 1960, with his former wife June and lived in Cooper Landing until 1961. They moved to Anchorage and Mr. Harvath worked at Elmendorf Air Force Base until he retired in 1989.
After retirement, he returned to his cabin at Cooper Landing and enjoyed the peace and solitude of the community and growing potatoes in his garden. He also donated his time to help build St. John Newmann Catholic Church at Cooper Landing.
Mr. Harvath is survived by his sisters, Veronica Harvath and Margrete Negrete; sister-in-law, Ruth Harvath of Ashland; sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Karla of Tacoma, Wash., and John and Joyce of Anchorage; grandchildren and their spouses, John of Anchorage, Angela of Lawton, Okla., Joey and Izumi of Fukuoka, Japan, Jackie and Kirby Philpott and Jerri and Gary Soper; great-grandchildren, Devon Jacokes, Matthew and Jessi Harvath, Cassi, Megan and Heather Philpott, Cody Soper, Nashiki and Renatro Kinoshita; and extended family members, Margaret and Janet of Anchorage, Don and Becky Turner of Cooper Landing, and Larry and Amy Smithhisler of Nome.
He served in the U.S. Army infantry in the Pacific during World War II, and in Korea during the Korean conflict. He was awarded various medals during numerous combat engagements. He received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star With Oak Leaf Cluster for his leadership while near enemy lines. He and his men rebuilt a partially destroyed bridge in one night so that American forces could use the structure. After returning to the United States, Joe enjoyed competition shooting on military rifle teams.
He moved to Alaska in 1960, with his former wife June and lived in Cooper Landing until 1961. They moved to Anchorage and Mr. Harvath worked at Elmendorf Air Force Base until he retired in 1989.
After retirement, he returned to his cabin at Cooper Landing and enjoyed the peace and solitude of the community and growing potatoes in his garden. He also donated his time to help build St. John Newmann Catholic Church at Cooper Landing.
Mr. Harvath is survived by his sisters, Veronica Harvath and Margrete Negrete; sister-in-law, Ruth Harvath of Ashland; sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph and Karla of Tacoma, Wash., and John and Joyce of Anchorage; grandchildren and their spouses, John of Anchorage, Angela of Lawton, Okla., Joey and Izumi of Fukuoka, Japan, Jackie and Kirby Philpott and Jerri and Gary Soper; great-grandchildren, Devon Jacokes, Matthew and Jessi Harvath, Cassi, Megan and Heather Philpott, Cody Soper, Nashiki and Renatro Kinoshita; and extended family members, Margaret and Janet of Anchorage, Don and Becky Turner of Cooper Landing, and Larry and Amy Smithhisler of Nome.
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