James J. Harty

James J. Harty, 91, of Sioux City died Aug. 15, 2014 at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Daniel Rupp officiating. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum of the Resurrection at Calvary Cemetery, with military rights conducted by the U.S. Army Honor Guard. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus will provide an Honor Guard during this service.
Mr. Harty was born May 7, 1923, at Sioux City, the son of John and Charlotte (Hartnett) Harty of Hubbard, Neb. He was so christened in memory of his uncle, who was killed in World War I in the battle of Chateau Thierry. In early 1945, his World War II unit was within a few kilometers of this battle site. He graduated from Hubbard High School in 1941. He attended Tri-State Business College in Sioux City. He married Lucille M. Horton on Dec. 29, 1943, at Chapel 2, Amarillo, Army Air Field, Texas.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army in June 1943. In Germany, his unit, the 1282nd Combat Engineers was attached to the 28th Keystone Infantry Division, commonly known as the Bloody Bucket, such being the key element in the Battle of the Bulge. Germany surrendered on his 22nd birthday in 1945. While on the South Pacific seas enroute to the Philippines and the Invasion of Japan, the atom bombing of the Japanese cities prevented the necessity of such an invasion. He later served in the Philippines (Luzon) until 1946. He received numerous medals and awards, to include the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Occupation of Germany Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, National Guard Service Medal, Army Reserve Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Philippine Independence Medal. Sixty-five years later, he was a member of a group of Iowa World War II veterans on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to tour many sites, including the World War II Memorial.
He was a semi-pro baseball player and an active sports enthusiast. He did extensive camping and trailering and ballroom dancing and wintered in the Tampa, Fla., area for 24 years.
He was appointed Warrant Officer as Logistics Officer while a member of the Army National Guard in 1951 and served until 1958, when as Cadre for the newly organized 803rd Ordnance Battalion he reverted to United States Army Reserve status. During the 1980s, he had several tours of duty at the Pentagon, updating Field Officers Records at the Office of Chief Army Reserve Headquarters. He retired in 1983 with more than 36 years cumulative military service as Chief Warrant Officer (W4).
He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and Men’s Club. His great grandfather, John Heffernan, was one of the 25 men who brought logs from St. John’s Parish in Nebraska by boat; made them into lumber and built the first Catholic Church in Sioux City, in the vicinity of what is now known as Wesley Way. He was proud of his Irish heritage to where all of his branches of the family tree have been traced, some as far as the mid-1700s. He was also a member of the Monsignor Newman Flanagan Council 11038 of 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus and a member of Garrigan Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.
Additionally, Mr. Harty was a member of the American Legion Monahan Post 64, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1973, the American Military Society, the National Association of Uniformed Services, the Reserve Officers Association, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Holiday Rambler Campers and Bon Temps, Crystal Rhythm, McCook Lake Whirlers, and finally, Kings Point Sun City, Florida Dance Clubs.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille of Sioux City; two sons, James Patrick Harty of Ankeny, Iowa, and John Harty and his wife, Monica (Shay) Harty of Sioux City; a daughter, Colleen and her husband, Jim Reisener of Indianola, Iowa; grandchildren, Molly Harty, Zachary Harty, Sarah Harty and her fiancé, Joel Plueger, Daniel Harty, Emily Harty, Veronica Harty, Matthew Reisener and Anne Marie Reisener; and one great-grandson, Landon Plueger.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary; and a daughter-in-law, Jean Marie (Janis) Harty.
Pallbearers will be Zach Harty, Dan Harty, Matt Reisener, Ron Edler, Mike Edler and Doug Black.
Memorials in his name may be directed to Blessed Sacrament Grade School, Heelan High School or in his name for Sunrise Retirement Home where he received excellent care from their team, especially his friend, Doug Black