Joe Harrison

Joe R. Harrison, beloved husband of Rita, devoted father to Kari, Kelly and Kristina and respected Miamisburg businessman and civic supporter, passed away on September 23, 2021, at the age of 79 while traveling in Indiana. His personal magnetism, compassion, dry wit, and signature laugh will be missed by the many whose lives he touched.

Joe was born April 6, 1942, in Waterloo, IA to Paul and Helen Harrison, the youngest of four children. His work ethic was honed early, as he took his first job at the local paper at 9 years old. Eventually, after moving to Superior, WI, Joe’s family settled in Duluth, MN, where Joe discovered his lifelong love of the outdoors and the natural world by exploring far and wide, beginning with Lake Superior and then the Northwoods.

At 17, Joe joined the army and was stationed primarily in Hawaii at Scofield Barracks. After completing his tour of duty, Joe’s travels took him to California, where he met the love of his life and life-long mate, Rita Judd. They were married in 1963 and eventually settled in southern Ohio.

Joe worked as locksmith as several other positions at Mound Facility for a decade. His gift for entrepreneurship revealed itself during that time, too, with his successful investment in ice cream trucks. Joe’s business interests expanded to restaurant supply and distribution when he founded Alcor Supply Company in 1970, still a proud going concern.

Joe was instrumental in revitalizing downtown Miamisburg. He purchased and refurbished numerous commercial properties, yet this was just the public face of Joe’s active interest in community. Privately, his largely anonymous and spontaneous generosity took many forms, including donations organizations and individuals, including the homeless, children and veterans. He would often stop on roads and highways, no matter the time of day, to assist travelers in distress. Once, Joe famously bought toys for a little girl he didn’t know who was waiting in a restaurant for her mother to finish her shift. These stories are many, and Joe would never tell them himself—he was not interested in being feted for his generosity and love of community. His interest was in finding ways to make Miamisburg a better place for all who lived and worked there.

Joe began each day at 3am with a cup of coffee and readings from the Bible and his other favorite books, followed by an exercise routine that he started at the age of 22. He never skipped a day, not even when he was in tremendous pain. He was an avid golfer and reader, accumulating thousands of books. His favorite writers included Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway, and Henry David Thoreau, whose work reminded Joe of his youth exploring nature.

Joe was predeceased by his parents, and by two of his siblings-- Robert and Nancy. He is survived by his loving wife, Rita, and their three daughters, Kari, Kelly and Kristina, as well as by three grandchildren—Kelcye, Margaret, and Patrick; two great-grandchildren—Ivan and Leon; and by his brother Jim.

The family will receive friends on Sunday October 3rd from 2-5pm at Gebhart-Schmidt-Parramore Funeral Home.

A memorial service, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday October 4th at the Plaza Theater, followed by light refreshments.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Midwestern Children’s Home or The Plaza Theater.

The family requests that all visitors wear a mask at both events.