Obituary of Joseph Edward Hartnett

Joseph Edward Hartnett, 84, passed away peacefully from lung cancer with his family by his side on June 11, 2019 in Beaverton, Oregon. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Edward William Hartnett and A. Geraldine Hartnett. Joe attended Coindre Hall boarding school in Huntington, New York. He graduated from Waukon High School in Iowa before moving to Denver, Colorado. In Denver, Joe met Carol Lee Warnecke of Laramie, Wyoming. They married in Denver in 1954. They moved to Oakland, California in 1955 where they started their family. In 1963, Joe graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in History while serving as a Platoon Sergeant in the Army National Guard. In 1973, the Hartnett family moved to San Anselmo, California where Joe and Carol continued raising three boys: Benjamin (Jane) Hartnett of Amery, Wisconsin; Sidney Hartnett of Novato, California; and Zachary (Remy) Hartnett of Beaverton, Oregon. Joe enjoyed more than 30 years in San Anselmo as a dedicated family man, meticulously and beautifully remodeling his house, walking the towns and hills of Marin, venturing on a short foray into sky diving, and ultimately traveling the world with Carol. Joe and Carol spent their senior years in Beaverton, Oregon to be near their two grandchildren (Amanda and Kayden). While in Oregon, Joseph loved participating in reading groups, attending the symphony and local theater, participating in discussion groups, and taking a variety of local classes. Joe was known for his great sense of humor and wit. Joe’s twilight years were committed to fighting hate and bigotry and supporting justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. In addition to his children, Joe is survived by his loving younger sister, Rita Marie Hartnett of Henderson, Nevada. No memorial is planned, per Joe’s wishes. In lieu of flowers, Joe would have encouraged all to consider a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org).