Joseph Michael Hart Jr.

Joseph Michael Hart, Jr., longtime resident of Worthington, Ohio, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2014. Born in Concord, New Hampshire on August 29, 1936 to the late Joseph and Alice (Drouin) Hart Sr. Joe is survived by his wife Judy, Brother Bob, sons Mike, Sean and Bob and six loving grandchildren. Joe is preceded in death by his father Joseph Michael, mother Alice and brother Tom. After graduating from St. John High School in Concord, Joe made the long journey to the University of Nebraska where he played football for the Cornhuskers and was a varsity letter winner from 1954 to 1958. His love of Nebraska football was known to all and he proudly wore Husker Red until the day of his passing. Upon graduating from Nebraska, Joe entered the United States Marine Corps where he served from 1960 to 1965. Joe’s love of the Marine Corps, and his advocacy for members of all branches of the United States Armed forces was a defining characteristic of his life. The only two-time Worthington Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall, Joe was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 239 and served as Post Commander from 1996 – 1997. Joe proudly devoted his time to issues relating to active and retired members of the military and worked tirelessly to ensure that the men and women of the Armed Forces received the gratitude and support of a grateful nation, in life and in death. Joe married the love of his life, Judy, in May of 1962 in Omaha, Nebraska, where they lived until moving first to Des Moines, Iowa in 1969 and shortly thereafter to Worthington where he remained until his passing. Joe was an active and generous member of the community, dedicating his time to numerous charitable causes, including the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Joe also was a member of the Worthington Board of Education including serving as President. Married for 52 years, Joe was a devoted husband to Judy and served as her fulltime caregiver later in life as she began to suffer from the effects of dementia. Despite the mental and physical toll of providing 24 hour a day care to his wife, Joe remained committed to Judy and only allowed outside assistance when his own health would no longer allow him to care for her. At the end of his life, Joe’s sole concern was the well-being of Judy and would not pass without the assurance that Judy would be cared for. Joseph Michael Hart, Jr. touched many throughout the course of his life and gladly gave his time and energy to benefit others. He is missed greatly by his family and friends, and will be waiting for Judy until the Lord calls her to heaven to join her loving husband of 52 years. Mass of Christian Burial St. Peter Catholic Church, 10:00 am Monday, June 23, 2014. Family will receive friends 6:00 to 9:00 pm Sunday, June 22, 2014 with American Legion Service at 8:30 pm at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High St., Worthington, Ohio 43085. Burial Flint Cemetery with military honors presented by the Leasure-Blackston American Legion and U.S. Marine Corps.