John H. Bardes

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John H. Bardes, Jr., 98, of New Palestine died Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Altenheim Senior Living in Beech Grove. John was born in Brooklyn, New York on Aug. 29, 1912, the son of John H. Bardes and Harriet Anna (Siegele) Bardes. He was preceded in death by three sisters. He graduated from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey (1934).

On Feb. 25, 1945, he married Suzanna Reeser in Indianapolis. They had three sons, David Thomas (Susan), William Allen (Pat), and James Paul (Sandy), and a daughter, Grace Ann Koehler (Steve). John and Suzanna also cared for Terri Lynn (Crosley) Null for a number of years. John's extended family includes 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. After Suzanna's death, John married Mary Bardonner in 1992 in New Palestine.

John Bardes maintained his membership in the Community Church of New York, Unitarian-Universalist for nearly 70 years. He was involved with All Souls Unitarian Church in Indianapolis, the Rushville Unitarian Fellowship, and the New Palestine Methodist Church.

John was active in the New Palestine Lions Club, the Lions Camp Woodsmoke, the War Resisters League, Public Citizen, Population Connection, and the Wilderness Society, and was a former volunteer at the Hancock Regional Hospital and the Fountaintown Volunteer Fire Department. He was employed as a Mechanical Engineer by Bevington, Taggart, and Fowler in Indianapolis and by Rotz Engineering in Speedway.

John's final act of service was the donation of his body to the Indiana Lions Eye Bank, and the Indiana University Anatomical Board.

Visitation will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Hendryx Mortuary in New Palestine, with a memorial service following at 4 p.m.

The familly requests memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. Suggested charities include the American Friends Service Committee, or others of individual's choice.