Atlas Twp.-For Joseph Hardacre, sitting idle was not an option.
From driving a truck cross country, serving on the Goodrich Village Council or battling the Germans in Italy’Joseph kept moving.
Hardacre died June 1 after a long battle with emphysema.
He was 87.
Joseph Hardacre was born in Flint on March 6, 1921, the son of Alexander and Hilda Hardacre. He moved to Mays Landing, N.J., where he grew up. In 1943, he dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Army, serving in Italy and North Africa during World War II.
Following his time in the Army, Hardacre returned to Flint in search of work.
‘Dad tried working in the shop for about an hour,? said John Hardacre, 58, one of Joseph’s three sons. ‘He left and joined the Teamsters as a truck driver at F.J. Boutell. He hauled new cars for the auto companies. He continued driving for more than 40 years. Dad logged more than 4.5 million miles without an accident by the time he retired in 1985.?
While working in the Flint area, Joseph met Marie Prentice and they were married on June 25, 1947.
With Marie at home raising three boys, Joseph became a lifelong member of Grand Blanc Lodge #571 Free and Accepted Masons, the Bay City Consistory and Elf Khurafeh Shrine Temple.
He served on the Goodrich Village Council for seven years. He was a Goodrich Village Police Officer for 12 years, a recovery diver for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department for 14 years and a volunteer firefighter for the Atlas Township Fire Department for 23 years.
‘Dad told the story about Goodrich Police Chief Lloyd Murphy and him chasing a suspect into a barn near the corner of M-15 and Oakwood Road,? said John. ‘Dad and Lloyd had their guns out and Lloyd stumbled as they approached the barn, causing his gun to fire. The shot hit the barn and the suspect came running out with his hands in the air ready to surrender.?
Township resident Herb Warson, 79, served on the Goodrich Police Department in the 1950s and later with the Atlas Police Department with Hardacre.
‘As an officer and person, Joe was the best guy you’d ever know,? said Warson. ‘There’s no better. He was the same everyday’simply a good soul. We were on the road in the patrol car together, I guess there was not a lot going on out in Atlas Township during the 1950s. But, I remember Joe was good to everyone.?
Joseph and Marie moved to Houghton Lake in 1973, purchasing the 200-acre Snow Bowl Road Campground. Joseph continued to drive trucks while Marie took care of the camp until his retirement in 1985. The couple sold the camp in 2000 and returned to the Flint area to be near family.
The couple were together for 58 years until Marie’s death in 2005.
Joseph’s knees and emphysema continued to worsen, prompting the need for a wheelchair.
‘We moved dad into the Goodrich Hospice, and seven hours later he was gone,? said John. ‘He was the kind of guy that did not want help, but loved to help others.?
Surviving are, sons, John (Jennie) of Fenton, Joseph Jr.(Jenny) of Grand Blanc, David (Linda) of Kinde, Mich.; nine grandchildren; 16 great- grandchildren; sister, Renee Riffey of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and sister-in-law, Hazel (Larry) of Dodge City, Mich.
Services where held at the Swartz Funeral Home on June 10. Interment at the Crestwood Cemetery in Flint.