Harry Dewayne Harnish

Harry DeWayne Harnish, 94 of La Crosse, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2014 at home.

He was born to Harry and Ann (Miller) Harnish on November 16, 1919 in La Crosse WI. He served in the United States Army duringWorld War II from 1941 - 1945, with two years of service in the European Theater.

Harry married Ruth L. Schreiber on August 17, 1946 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in La Crosse. He was a long-time employee of the Milwaukee Railroad. Harry’s smile could light up a room.

In addition to his loving wife, Ruth, of La Crosse, he is survived by one daughter Kathryn A. (James) Leide of Madison, WI; two sons, Harry E. (Marilyn) Harnish of West Fork, AR and Timothy R. (Grace) Harnish of Holmen, WI; six granddaughters, Heather Leide, Tracy (Brent) Garringer, Kori Rice, Lauren (Justin) Ackerman, Kimberly (John) Ivy, and Kristen (Patrick) Walz; one grandson, Kevin (Krissa) Harnish; seven great-grandsons, Killian and Kieran Harnish, Christopher Myers, Jakob Layland, Dexter Rice, Peyton Ackerman and Jackson Ivy; two great-granddaughters, Sophia Ackerman and Julia Walz; and one sister, Shirley Allen of La Crosse.

Harry was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Richard Graw and sisters Inez Nelson and Juanita Smith. He was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, and the La Crosse American Legion Post 52.

Special thanks to the wonderful women at Hospice who allowed Harry to remain at home with the help of Ruth. Memorials may be made to First Evangelical Lutheran School or Church or to the charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Sept. 8, 2014 at 11 a.m. at First Ev. Lutheran Church, 400 West Ave. S., La Crosse. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service Monday at the church. The Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse is in charge of arrangements.