Robert N. Harnett

Robert N. Harnett, 90, of Ramsey, NJ, formerly of Des Plaines, IL, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at home surrounded by his loving family. A veteran of the US Army, he was born in Chicago, IL to Earl and Veronica Harnett (nee Kelly), and was brother to Elaine Foster (nee Harnett) and close cousin to Luella Pakieser (nee Kelly). Raised on the South Side of Chicago, he attended St. Sabina’s school and Leo High School where he played basketball, football and played trombone in the band.

After high school he began working for Procon (now UOP) as a draftsman. Throughout his career, he worked his way through several departments, culminating in Cost Engineering. While at UOP, he studied at the Illinois Institute of Technology earning his degree in Engineering. He was a member of the AACE serving as President. After leaving UOP, he began working for Ogden Projects in Cost Engineering and subsequently moved to Ramsey, NJ with his family. At his time of retirement, he had been promoted to Vice President of Project Services.                  

In Des Plaines, he was actively involved in the church and the community, serving as an official for YMCA swimming and a basketball coach for St. Mary’s school. After moving to Ramsey, he served as usher and as a Pre-Cana counselor at St Paul’s Catholic church. An avid golfer in his retirement, he played at the Ramsey Country Club in the men’s league for over 25 years and served on the board of directors and the greens committees for several years. His golf career peaked with a Hole In One in 2008. In addition to golf, he was a life-long fan of Notre Dame football, the Chicago bears, bowling, and a good crossword puzzle.

He was a loving husband and father and will be greatly missed. He is pre-deceased by Joan, his wife of 55 years, and survived by his children: Carol Harnett, Bob Harnett and his children Kayley, Shane and Shannon, and Jennifer Harnett with her husband Chad Shearer.

Services to celebrate the lives of both Bob and Joan will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 10 AM at St. Paul R.C. Church in Ramsey, NJ. Interment will be held in a private ceremony in Chicago. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society; https://donate.cancer.org or to The Valley Hospital Hospice; https://valleyhospitalfoundation.org program would be appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert N. Harnett, please visit our floral store.