Louis W. "Lou" Harmening, Jr.

Louis (Lou) William Harmening, JR was born May 28, 1939, in Elmhurst IL, to Louis William Harmening and Violet Heindl Harmening. He died March 22 at home after lengthy treatments for prostate cancer and accepted these with grace and determination.

After graduating from York High school, he graduated from DePauw University and Northern Illinois University. His first teaching position was at Glenbrook High School followed by York H.S. and Elmhurst College. He joined Rose Polytechnic in 1970 as Registrar and Assistant Professor of American Literature and retired from there as Associate Professor of American Literature in 2001.

While at DePauw he joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity and agreed to a blind date (fortunately) to play bridge where he met his future wife, Janet (Jan) Bloxsome whom he married August 18, 1962 . They continued playing bridge, most recently at the T.H. Bridge Center, as well as golf and tennis. He is a member of Terre Haute Rotary Club, Centenary UMC, and CCTH.

Lou was an athlete who enjoyed several sports-baseball (called Golden Arm Harmening) basketball, tennis and especially golf. He was Midwest Badminton champion in singles and doubles while at DePauw. He officiated Basketball for 25 years in Indiana and Illinois for high school and small college and particularly appreciated being able to officiate during the Special Olympics in Terre Haute. Lou served as President of the WVOA and state President of his professional organization, IACRAO .  While his sons were growing up Lou coached Little League Baseball and basketball at the TH Boy's Club.  Lou particularly enjoyed playing golf with his sons who took him to play the courses on his bucket list.  We remember him fondly for his dedication to family and his quick wit which usually brought a smile.

Lou is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jan Harmening, his son Jeffrey (Lisa) and their children, Caroline and Kurt and son Andrew (Diane) and children John and Katelyn.  He is also survived by his nephews Robert Rebenstorf (Rose) and Randy (Linda) Rebenstorf, Jeff Bloxsome (Kathleen) and Randy Bloxsome (Wendy) and sister-in-law Jean Bloxsome.  In addition to his parents, Lou was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Robert Rebenstorf, and mother and father in law Merceda and John Blosxome and brother-in-law, John Bloxsome.

Celebration of Life will be held at White Chapel, Rose-Hulman campus , visitation 3-5, Service 5 pm, April 5th.

If friends desire contributions may be made to the Bloxsome-Harmening Scholarship, c/o Steve Brady, Institutional /Advancement, at Rose-Hulman; https://www.rose-hulman.edu/about-us/community-and-public-services/institutional-advancement/ways-to-give.html .  Contribution envelopes will also be available at the visitation and service.