Obituary

Obituary
John H. Harding, 92, of Naples, FL, formerly of Rockford, IL, passed away on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at the Villa at Terracina Grand. He was born October 15, 1928 to Raymond O. and Arline (Hammond) Harding in Rockford, IL. He graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and joined Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Soon after graduating in 1951, John began working for the company his father founded -- Hydro-Line Manufacturing, headquartered in Rockford, IL. John served his entire career at Hydro-Line, working as Chief Engineer and President. He helped grow the privately held, family owned business to eventually include five US manufacturing facilities and numerous international licensees who still to this day manufacture the trademark “Hydro-Line HR5 Series” tie-rod NFPA hydraulic cylinders.

Reserved, kind, and generous, John was a family man with a close circle of lifetime friends. He married Joan C. Bergquist, a childhood friend, in 1955. They raised a family and enjoyed good food, golfing, and traveling together until her death in 1987. He then married Janet E. Beekman in 1990. They lived in Lake Geneva, WI and Naples, FL until her death in 2013. John belonged to several golf clubs during his life, including: Forest Hills Country Club of Rockford, IL, Big Foot Country Club of Fontana, WI, and Olde Florida Golf Club of Naples, FL.

He is survived by his children, Jane (Roger) Buckthal of Boise, ID, Anne (Jens) Milling of Paradise Valley, AZ, and Nancy (John) Kutilek of Encinitas, CA; and grandchildren, Dustin, Eric, and Alex Buckthal, Lucy and Peter Milling, Jack, Drew, and Paige Kutilek; and great grandchildren Owen and John Kutilek. His parents, brother, Owen (Ben) Bernard, and sister, Atna (Pat) Romana also preceded him in death.

Private graveside services will be held in Scandinavian Cemetery. Memorials may be made to your local food bank, the Salvation Army, or to a charity of your choice.