June Harbath

June Marie Harbath (Trask), 96, passed peacefully at 12:30 pm Saturday August 11, 2018 in the presence of her two daughters and son-in-law at Someren Glen Care Center in Centennial, CO.

June was born on May 18, 1922 in Wausau, Wisconsin. She went to college for a couple of years, then went to work in the Chemistry Dept. at the same paper mill in Wausau where her father was employed. Due to World War II, there had been a shortage of employable men. With the war over, she was out of her job at the paper mill. After this, she worked in a fine jewelry & watchmaker's shop in Shawano, WI. While working there, she met an attractive young man who came into the shop. She fell for his dapper good looks and big brown eyes. (Love works in mysterious ways as June was working for her future brother-in-law!) She had an antique spinning wheel that had a couple of broken spindles. When she found out this handsome man was a carpenter, she asked him if he could repair it. That repair was mighty fine and pleasing to both of them. They continued to see each other and write letters during the time Clyde was serving in the Naval reserves and then overseas in the Korean War. June and Clyde married July 25, 1953 in Shawano, Wisconsin. A couple years after they married, they relocated to Crystal Lake, Illinois. They stayed there, where they loved their home and community for more than fifty years.

June returned to the workforce in the 1970's. She became part of the newspaper's advertising layout team at the then Crystal Lake Herald, (now the Northwest Herald). A bit later she received her certification to be a teacher's aide and went to work at Prairie Grove School from 1977 until her retirement in 1987. She loved this position, the children and being part of the educational process and more.

June was a truly kind and loving person with a wicked sense of humor. She loved life and was continuously conscious of the welfare of people & animals, both close to home and far away. She was a devoted wife and mother & loved raising her two daughters. The Harbath house was known to be a place of homey welcome to all. She was a member of the Women's Auxiliary at First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake for many years. She loved cooking, antiques, gardening and taking care of their beautiful home. She enjoyed writing poetry, prose and short stories. She was an inventive storyteller and submitted her work to various publications, some of which have been published. She also had a flair for drawing and had great talent.

June was remarkably strong in both character and will. She was our Bionic mom, she had all six major joints replaced plus many other surgeries, but that seldom slowed her down. She had an amazing zest for life. At 89 after her husband Clyde died in 2011, she moved to Colorado where her daughter Jeann and husband live. Fortunately, her other daughter Wendy moved there a short time later so all the ‘girls' could be together to live, love and laugh. June was greatly loved and will continue to be an inspiration to her family and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Wendy Whitney Harbath, and Jeann Ann Molliconi (David) as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband Clyde Charles Harbath, her brother Russell F. Trask (LeElda Kufhal), her father Jesse Harris Trask, her mother Erna (Zahn) Trask and her infant brother Lee Trask, her brother-in-law Arthur Jr. Harbath (Marjorie Leigh Applegate), sister-in-law Bess Kuckuk (Harbath) and brother-in-law John (Jack) Kuckuk.

The family is so very grateful for the many kind, loving and helpful people at Someren Glen Care Center for all of their assistance, their caring and their sincere affections which made her last years' enjoyable and comfortable. The family also acknowledges the attentiveness and compassionate care of Hospice Compassus who helped ease her last few weeks. Arrangements are made through Cremation Society of Colorado. A celebration of life service will be planned for spring of 2019. In memory of June, gifts/donations may be made to the My Stuff Bags Foundation (www.mystuffbags.org) which serves children who are rescued from neglect, abandonment or abuse. (A "My Stuff Bag" is full of things they can call their own and need to help them settle in their new environments, such as clothes, toys, toiletries, stuffed animals, and a security blanket.) Please specify your donation is for June Harbath. We ask that you drop a line to Jeann or Wendy if you do donate (no donation is too small or too big).