Jack Harmer

Jack Harmer, 77, of Jefferson, died Feb. 19 at his home.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. March 1 at the Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson, followed by interment of cremains and military rites at the Jefferson Cemetery.

Jackie Merritt Harmer was born Oct. 6, 1943, in Council Bluffs to Virginia (Pine) and Barton Merritt Harmer, of Glenwood. The family moved to Jefferson in 1951 and resided on South Cedar Street. Younger brother Judd was born in 1952.

As a boy, Jack liked playing “cowboys” and “war” with his neighborhood friends.

In 1962, he graduated from Jefferson High School, where he played football and basketball. He attended Northwest Missouri State and graduated from American Institute of Business in Des Moines. He worked part-time at Safeway Stores while attending college.

Jack and Chris Henning met in 1964 and were married in 1966 in Jefferson. Daughter Angela was born in 1967 in El Paso, Texas. Son Scott was born on his father’s birthday in Jefferson in 1968.

Jack was drafted into the Army in 1967 and completed basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso. Orders sent him to Vietnam in 1968, where he served as personnel specialist at Cam Ranh Bay. At the conclusion of his duty, he was honorably discharged as a sergeant in December 1968.

Jack, Chris and the kids made their home in Des Moines in 1969. He resumed working for Safeway where he became store manager til 1975. The couple later divorced but remained friends, supporting children and one another over the years.

Jack worked as area manager for Richman Gordman from 1975 to 1989.

He married Nancy Fryett in 1982. They later divorced.

In 1990, Jack moved to Las Vegas with his companion Wanda Benvenuti, who preceded him in death in 2003.

He very much enjoyed living in Las Vegas; warm weather, rodeos, NASCAR and his casino hangout, The Gold Coast.

He worked at Sheplers Western Wear. Jack loved that job! The boots, the hats and the people he met. He retired as assistant manager in December 2007.

Jack returned to Jefferson in mid-2008 to care for his elderly parents and be near family.

An admirer of Corvettes, he bought himself one in 2009 and later upgraded to a 2014 C-7 Night-Race Blue Vette for his 70th birthday. He named it “The Magnificent Seven.”

He traveled to many Corvette events. In 2016, he drove the “Tail of the Dragon,” an 11- mile road with 318 curves in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. He also drove his car on the Talladega Super Speedway and Indianapolis Speedway.

Jack enjoyed golfing at Lakeside, reunions with Army buddies and gathering with friends and family from the many facets of his life. A great meal and, of course, dessert, was never declined.

Many will remember him as a listener and man of few words who, when he did speak, was worth listening to. He will be truly missed.

Jack Harmer is survived by his daughter, Angela (John Elliott), of Des Moines; his son Scott, of Jefferson; and his first wife, Chris Henning, of Cooper.

He was preceded in death by his mother Virginia in 2008; his father Merritt in 2009; and his brother Judd in 2006.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson.