Jack E. Harmon

JACK HARMON MUSCATINE, Iowa - Jack E. Harmon, 79, of Muscatine, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at Genesis Hospital - East Campus. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com Jack was born on February 5, 1937, in Muscatine, the son of John Charles and Nettie Amy Harmon. He married Joan Gilleland on August 8, 2009, in Muscatine. He graduated from the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School (IBSSS) in Vinton, in 1955, and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from the University of Iowa in 1963. Jack served as acting Principal and taught in the Independent School District located in Montpelier, Iowa, from 1963 to 1966. He then served as the P. E. teacher of grades K-12, and as the wrestling and track coach at the IBSSS. When he left IBSSS in 1970, he was hired as a P.E. and science teacher and coach of boys and girls basketball and track at the Junior High School in Bellevue. Jack came to New Mexico in 1972, as the P.E. teacher and coa...[more]

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at the New Mexico School For the Visually Handicapped. During this tenure, he coached a three-time state champion, the outstanding wrestler in the state and an All-American in wrestling. During this time, he received his Master's Degree in the Education of the Blind and Visually Handicapped from the University of Northern Colorado. He retired from teaching and coaching in 1996. He was a longtime Lions Club member and also served as District Governor of District 40 South, in New Mexico. Jack enjoyed fishing and being outdoors. His other interests included hiking, camping, and hunting. He also loved his cats. Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Joan Harmon of Muscatine; two daughters, Debbie Wigner of Muscatine, and Jennifer Gersbeck and husband, Chris, of New York; one grandson, Chad Bonice; one brother, Gary Harmon of Muscatine; and two sisters, Beverly Gonzalez and Vikki Cortez both of Muscatine. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Sandra Smith; his second wife, Pat Ullmann; and two brothers, Larry Harmon and Ronald L. Harmon Sr.; one brother, John, in infancy; and two sisters, Marcella and Virginia, also in infancy.