John Andrew Harnagel

John Andrew Harnagel

Washington

John Andrew Harnagel, 79, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the Halcyon House in Washington.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Wayland Mennonite Church with Pastor Rachelle Luitjens officiating. The family will be present to receive friends from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment will take place at the North Hill Cemetery in Wayland, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the Henry County Heritage Trust or the Wayland Mennonite Church. Online condolences may be sent for John’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

John was born March 18, 1944, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Willard and Madeleine (Franks) Harnagel. He graduated from Des Moines Roosevelt High School and the University of Iowa. John received his Masters Degree from Loyola University in Chicago. He was united in marriage to Ardis Vermazen on July 20, 1968.

John worked for the Department of Child and Family services in Chicago for several years and then moved to Grays Lake where he worked for Central Baptist Childrens Home. He finished his career as a School Social Worker for the Palombi Middle School in Lake Villa, Illinois. In 2006, John and Ardis moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to be closer to family and watch their grandchildren grow up. John moved to Halcyon House in Washington in 2021. He was a member of the Wayland Mennonite Church and enjoyed flowers, gardening, watching birds and collecting geodes. John enjoyed studying Colonial History and Civil War Battles and traveling to historic sites. Most importantly, John was very proud of his grandsons and enjoyed watching their many successes.

John is survived by his daughter, Rachel Meyer and husband Jay of Wayland, Iowa; and two grandsons, Joel Meyer and Sam Meyer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ardis, in 2016; and siblings, Martin Harnagel and Annette White.