George William “Bill” Harnish

George William “Bill” Harnish, loving husband and proud father, passed away in Houlton, Maine on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at the age of 83.  He slipped away from this world with his one-and-only, Joan Royle Harnish, by his side, as she had been through 52 years of marriage.

Bill was born on November 17, 1937 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania to the late George M. and Gladys (Detterline) Harnish.  He graduated with Parkesburg High School’s Class of 1955 before proudly serving in the U.S. Army.  As a member of the Keystone Masonic Lodge 569 (now Brandywine Goddard Lodge 383), he was honored to serve as Master in 1970.

After his retirement from Lukens Steel in 1998, Bill and Joan moved first to the Delaware shore and then, in 2013, to Houlton, Maine, where he became assistant goatherder at Took a Leap Farm, owned by his daughter, Kathryn, and her husband, Robert Lawless.  He enjoyed helping out with cheese sales at the Houlton Community Market, and he and Joan became well known for the traditional textile craft of penny rugs.  Bill had an uncanny eye for color and pattern, so while he would design intricate applique patterns, Joan would hand-stitch them.  He was a welcome sight for many folks at craft shows throughout Maine.  As a transplanted Mainer, he switched football allegiances from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots - not a bad call in the Brady era!  In the last months of his life, he was Kathryn’s constant companion and biggest cheerleader as she ran for the Maine House...he couldn’t wait to get in the car and ride shotgun on her travels throughout southern Aroostook County.

Travel was a passion for Bill, whether it involved loading up the family in the Cutlass Cruiser and Prowler travel trailer and visiting Civil War battlefields, road-tripping with Joan on a month-long journey through the national parks of the western United States, or returning to visit Germany, Austria, and Switzerland more than forty years after he was stationed in Heidelberg.  With Joan, he visited all 50 states and most of the Canadian provinces, and he had stories from each one!

In addition to his wife and daughter, Bill is survived by his brother, Robert, and his wife, Beverly, of Wellsboro, PA. He was preceded in death by his son and sunshine, William Dean Harnish, and his sister, Barbara Harnish Christie.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Nabozny, Dr. Cavalari, and the entire team at the Houlton Regional Hospital ER for the compassion and comfort extended not only to Bill, but to them in his final hours.  Houlton is lucky to have these folks caring for our community.

Services will be private, but the family asks all who knew Bill to raise a toast in his honor. Those wishing to memorialize Bill may also make a donation to the Ark Animal Sanctuary (https://www.facebook.com/arkanimalsanctuary) or to Sustainable Empowerment Leadership Foundation (https://www.selfhn.org).  Arrangements in care of Dunn Funeral Home 11 Park St. Houlton, ME 04730.  Online condolences may be expressed on the Tribute Wall at: www.dunnfuneral.com