Paul A. "Tony" Harkin

Paul A. “Tony” Harkin
1936-2017

Paul A. “Tony” Harkin, 81, passed away on September 17, 2017 surrounded by his loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer.

Tony was born in Cumming IA on August 7, 1936 to Dan & Mary (McCusker) Harkin, the middle child of 14 siblings.

Tony attended elementary school in Cumming and spent his summers with his maternal grandparents Anna and Tony McCusker in Churchville, IA. His mother’s plan was “to help shape up the kid”. He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1954 and attended the University of Hard Knocks. While attending high school, Tony got his start in the construction industry as a carpenter’s helper working after school and summers.

His career began as an apprentice glazier with Carr Glass & Paint, a company he later purchased. Tony’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to venture into ownership of several businesses in Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois.

Tony was known for his keen sense of business knowledge and his way of advising and mentoring others to succeed. He was a Renaissance man; larger than life and limitless in his talents.

In 1958 Tony married Carol Borst. To this union seven children were born: Barbara, Lynnette, Melanie, Gary, Gail, Jarred, and Ryan.

In 2003, Tony married Dona Alspach and together they traveled the world and spent their winters in Arizona, Florida, and Texas. In his retirement years Tony enjoyed many hobbies including cooking, gardening, reading, and traveling in his motorhome. He also enjoyed woodworking and built many beautiful furniture pieces for himself as well as for loved ones. With the love of woodworking Tony built his casket for his final resting place and crafted the chalice that will be used during his burial Mass.

Tony is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Daniel Jr. and Raymond (infants), Gene, Harold, Martin, and sister Margaret Seymour.

Tony is survived by his wife Dona, children Barbara, Lynnette (Tim) Marean, Melanie (Kenny) Frueh, Gary (Nancy), Gail (Brian) Duffy, Jarred, Ryan, step-son Michael Alspach and his grandchildren Zachary Marean, Leo Duffy and Olivia Frueh.

Also surviving Tony are his five sisters Ruth Bishop, Marilyn Hartshorn, Clare Ann Neff, Lucille Morinelli, and Rena (Paul) King, three brothers Dennis (Linda) Harkin, Richard (Ricky) Harkin, and Edward (Linda) Harkin and brother-in-law Earl Seymour and sister-in-law Joan Harkin along with many lifelong friends and business associates..

He was a former member of the Des Moines Rotary, a fourth degree of the Knights of Columbus, and a current member of The Morning Club.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 Orchard Hills Dr., Norwalk, IA with interment near his parents at St John’s Cemetery, Cumming, IA. Visitation will be held at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, IA, Wednesday, September 20, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and time for sharing at 7:00 p.m.

Memorials can be directed to the American Cancer Society, North Region, 1730 River Forest Dr., Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or the Harkin Endowment Fund at Dowling Catholic High School, 1400 Buffalo Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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