Charles Edmund Harr, loving husband, wonderful father, and courageous veteran of World War II, was a 50 year resident of the Denver, Colorado community before residing for several years in Overland Park, Kansas. He passed away on April 15, 2024 surrounded by his family.
Charlie, as he was known to many, was born October 3, 1924 in Ainsworth, Nebraska to Lilford and Gertrude (Jefferis) Harr. Charlie grew up in a ranching family and graduated from Ainsworth High School before attending one year at the University of Nebraska/Lincoln where he became a life-long Cornhusker football fan. The day before Christmas, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and at 19 years of age landed on Omaha Beach shortly after D-Day. When the Army discovered he had driven a school bus before enlisting, he was selected as a member of the 85th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron and later the 5th Armored Division in the European Theater of Operation as a sergeant on a light assault tank. He participated in the Battle of Huertgen Forest and was in the Campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, the Rhineland and Central Europe before participating in the Occupation of Berlin. The U.S. Army recognized Charlie for his honorable service with a Good Conduct Medal and discharged him in 1946. Charlie had many amazing stories of his time in Europe and as he aged he was celebrated for his service many times.
After the war, Charlie returned home and finished a Bachelor Degree in Science in Geophysics at the University of Nebraska where he met Barbara Kaderli. They married on December 30, 1951 in Kimball, Nebraska. Charlie was employed as a Geophysicist with Magnolia Petroleum. Together, they traveled the US first on a seismograph crew in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, and later in the offices of Mobil Oil Company for 32 years in Kansas, Oklahoma City and Casper, Wyoming before settling in Denver, Colorado as they raised twin daughters. After retiring, Charlie and Barbara enjoyed many years exploring the world through travel.
Charlie was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Barbara, and his parents and brothers, Allen and Ervin Harr. He's survived by his daughters: Karen (Patrick) Caskey and Sandra (David) Dess, as well as five grandchildren: Colin Caskey (Amy Holden), twins Laurel and Brendan Caskey, Brian Dess (Maggie Halterman) and Emily Dess (Samson) Roopkumar. He was a proud new Great Grandad to great granddaughter, Ruby Roopkumar. He will be remembered for his happy demeanor, his intelligence and his kind nature with an infectious smile for everyone he met.
His family has organized a memorial service to honor Charlie's life and military service, which will be held at The Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas at a later date.
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