Joe L. HarrisJoe L. Harris, age 97, of Warsaw, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Warsaw.
Joe was born on Sept. 30, 1925, in Rushsylvania, Ohio, the son of C. Lloyd and Bonnie Hartsell Harris. He was united in marriage to Patricia “JoAn” Liston on Jan. 1, 1947.
He was a graduate of Rushsylvania High School in Ohio. After graduation in 1941, Joe proudly served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the LCI 600 and was a recipient of a Purple Heart. Thanks to the GI Bill, he attended Miami (Ohio) University and Indiana University, earning degrees for both Master of Science in Education and Bachelor of Science in Education. He taught mathematics for 38 years both in Ohio and Warsaw.
The movie Knute Rocknee inspired him to be a coach. And coach he did: baseball, basketball, football and his legacy being golf at Warsaw Community High School. His golf teams won 13 NLC titles, eight sectionals, one regional and was state runner-up 1969.
In 1989 he was named coach of the year of region 4 in the National Golf Coaches Association. Joe held the office of President of Indiana High School Golf Assoc. 1994-1995, was awarded Indiana High School Golf Hall of Fame in 1986, Indiana High School Golf Coach of the Year 1988, and was the first teacher and coach to receive the Northern Lakes Conference Outstanding Service Award in 1989. He was also the president of Warsaw Community Teachers Assoc. 1976-1977 and the president of Warsaw Lions Club 1991-1992. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church and the Warsaw Lions Club.
Joe will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 75 years, JoAn Harris; and their children: Vicky (Ray) Shumowsky, of Culver; Bonnie L. (Buck) Eibe, of Port Charlotte, Fla.; Mike (Annette) Harris, of Warsaw; John Harris, of Kansas City, Mo.; and Jim (Beth) Harris, of Warsaw; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in passing by both his parents, two brothers and two sisters.
Visitation for the family and friends will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw.
A funeral service in celebration of Joe’s life will be at the First United Methodist Church, 179 S. Indiana St., Warsaw, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
The family kindly request the memorial donations to First United Methodist Church, 179 S. Indiana St., Warsaw, IN 46580 or of one’s choice.
To sign the guestbook or send a condolence to the family please visit www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
