Ben John Harjer, Jr.'s Obituary
Mr. Ben John Harjer, Jr., CPO, US Navy, Ret., passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2011 in Muskegon. He was born January 27, 1922 in Muskegon to Ben John and Henrietta (Van Zuthem) Harjer, Sr., and always considered Muskegon his home. He retired with the rank Chief Petty Officer from the US Navy after 20 years of service and was a veteran of WWII. After his retirement from the Navy, he worked 15 years in civil service as an ammunition inspector for the US Army. On April 30, 1976, he married the former Gloria Ann Ruud in Muskegon and she survives him. John was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and served as an usher. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Fleet Reserve Association and the Lakeside Veterans Club. SURVIVORS include his wife, Gloria A. Harjer of Norton Shores; his daughter, Christine Knight and her children, Edward and Mitzi Knight of Muskegon; 3 step-children, Debbie (John) Helsen of Ravenna, Mitzi (Patrick) Carlson of Ludington, Nancy (Scott) Maus of Muskegon; 9 step-grandchildren; 4 brothers, Fred Harjer, Michael (Hazel) Harjer both of Muskegon, Harold Harjer, Everett “Buck” (Dorothy) Harjer both of Arizona; 3 sisters, Etta Bell, Joann Paul, and Loretta “Peg” (Bob) Forrest all of Muskegon; sister-in-law, Linda (Tom) Seastrom of Norton Shores; and many nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his son, Bruce John Harjer; his parents; 1 sister and 4 brothers; and sister-in-law, Georgiana (Gordon) VanderLeest. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be celebrated 12:00 PM Saturday, February 19, 2011, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Thomas J. Brown as celebrant, and the Revs. Fr. Matthew J. Barnum and Fr. Bartholomew Okagbue as concelebrants. INTERMENT will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery. VISITATION with John’s family will be 6-9 PM Friday at The Lee Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc., 6291 S. Harvey St., (231) 798-1100. Visitation will also be held in the Victor Miller Room at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, 11AM until the time of the Mass. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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