Harlan Frederick Kreider
March 31, 1935 — February 28, 2023
Harlan F. Kreider, 87, of Jacksonville, FL passed away peacefully on February 28, 2023.
No memorial services will be held. Naugle Funeral Home and Cremation Services will perform cremation and interment will be at a later date.
Harlan was born March 31, 1935 at the family residence in Rockford, IA, the middle son of Archie J. and Marion M. (Ueker) Kreider. He was a graduate of Rockford High School in the class of 1953. He served four years in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician. He was the radar tech who took the photo of the first sunken ship in the mouth of the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis in 1956. After being honorably discharged from the Navy and working several years, he attended college and received his B.S. and M.B.A. During his employment with Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc. for 27 years, he held several management assignments. Some of them included Product Assurance Manager for the Hubble Space Telescope and Manufacturing Manager for the Manufacture and Test of Space Station [solar array prototype and numerous other space satellite projects] and the Space Shuttle tiles. He retired in March 1990. After his retirement, Harlan and Connie purchased a motorhome and traveled the U.S. extensively visiting family and friends along the way as well as making several trips overseas. The highlight of his travels was to South Korea along with other families who still have missing family members that have never been returned home from the FORGOTTEN WAR. The South Korean Government sponsored this rewarding and memorable trip. It was his life-long mission to be reunited with his brother, Leighton, who died at the age of 20 in a prisoner of war camp due to starvation in Korea.
Harlan was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Nora Springs, IA and is currently a member of Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL. He was united in marriage to Connie Siefken-Hammitt in Sonora, CA on March 23, 1990. His hobbies included hunting/fishing and travel. He developed a real interest in doing computer research to locate fellow sailors and was proud to find so many who had served in his U.S. Navy Reconnaissance Squadron, and which led to many reunions together thereafter.
Surviving are his wife, Connie; his brother, Robert (Linda) Kreider, Sparta, WI; Children: Dr. Holly Kreider, Sunnyvale, CA; Keith (Norma) Kreider, Fair Oaks, CA; Stephanie (Ron) Templeman, Oregon City, OR; Michael (Trisha) Hammitt, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and Marcus (Heidi) Hammitt, Plover, WI; Nephews: Jeff (Karen Barton) Kreider, Smyrna, TN; and Brian (Jennifer) Kreider, Sparta, WI; a brother-in-law, Ken (Jane) Siefken, Grand Junction, CO; six grandchildren: Amanda, Jason, Sarena, Carmen, Abigail and Samuel; three great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Jazlynne and Taylor; and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Marion (Strobell) Kreider; his brother, Leighton Kreider; grandparents Harry and Grace Kreider; and Fred and Anna Ueker.
After his diagnosis of Parkinson's/Lewy Body in 2013, he joined Jax Hope for People with Parkinson's (formerly Rock Steady Boxing of Jacksonville). He participated for several years in their exercise and support groups. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.
https://www.parkinson.org/
No memorial services will be held. Naugle Funeral Home and Cremation Services will perform cremation and interment will be at a later date.
Harlan was born March 31, 1935 at the family residence in Rockford, IA, the middle son of Archie J. and Marion M. (Ueker) Kreider. He was a graduate of Rockford High School in the class of 1953. He served four years in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician. He was the radar tech who took the photo of the first sunken ship in the mouth of the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis in 1956. After being honorably discharged from the Navy and working several years, he attended college and received his B.S. and M.B.A. During his employment with Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc. for 27 years, he held several management assignments. Some of them included Product Assurance Manager for the Hubble Space Telescope and Manufacturing Manager for the Manufacture and Test of Space Station [solar array prototype and numerous other space satellite projects] and the Space Shuttle tiles. He retired in March 1990. After his retirement, Harlan and Connie purchased a motorhome and traveled the U.S. extensively visiting family and friends along the way as well as making several trips overseas. The highlight of his travels was to South Korea along with other families who still have missing family members that have never been returned home from the FORGOTTEN WAR. The South Korean Government sponsored this rewarding and memorable trip. It was his life-long mission to be reunited with his brother, Leighton, who died at the age of 20 in a prisoner of war camp due to starvation in Korea.
Harlan was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Nora Springs, IA and is currently a member of Shepherd of the Woods Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, FL. He was united in marriage to Connie Siefken-Hammitt in Sonora, CA on March 23, 1990. His hobbies included hunting/fishing and travel. He developed a real interest in doing computer research to locate fellow sailors and was proud to find so many who had served in his U.S. Navy Reconnaissance Squadron, and which led to many reunions together thereafter.
Surviving are his wife, Connie; his brother, Robert (Linda) Kreider, Sparta, WI; Children: Dr. Holly Kreider, Sunnyvale, CA; Keith (Norma) Kreider, Fair Oaks, CA; Stephanie (Ron) Templeman, Oregon City, OR; Michael (Trisha) Hammitt, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; and Marcus (Heidi) Hammitt, Plover, WI; Nephews: Jeff (Karen Barton) Kreider, Smyrna, TN; and Brian (Jennifer) Kreider, Sparta, WI; a brother-in-law, Ken (Jane) Siefken, Grand Junction, CO; six grandchildren: Amanda, Jason, Sarena, Carmen, Abigail and Samuel; three great-grandchildren, Kaiden, Jazlynne and Taylor; and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Marion (Strobell) Kreider; his brother, Leighton Kreider; grandparents Harry and Grace Kreider; and Fred and Anna Ueker.
After his diagnosis of Parkinson's/Lewy Body in 2013, he joined Jax Hope for People with Parkinson's (formerly Rock Steady Boxing of Jacksonville). He participated for several years in their exercise and support groups. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.
https://www.parkinson.org/
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