June 20, 1917 – September 10, 2012 Callisburg resident Chester Harendt, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away Monday, September 10, 2012 at North Texas Medical Center. He was born June 20, 1917, in Leuders, Texas to Herman and Rosa Lee Harendt. Chester served in the Army Air Force during WWII and planted the first victory garden in his community. He worked at SOWC in Ardmore and in Love County as a Deputy Sheriff. Chester has also worked in the oil fields as a roustabout and in farming. He loved fishing and visiting at the Callisburg Store. He had written a book on his life memories which his family will always cherish.
Funeral services for Mr. Harendt are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 13th at Meador-Clement-Keel Chapel with Rev. Ronald West officiating. Interment will follow in New Rest Haven Cemetery with military honors. Corey Strickland, Rusty Shell, David Harendt, Eric Carlquist, Kevin Shell, Colin Tiffie and J.P. Russell will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be 7 – 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Survivors of Chester Harendt include his daughter, Wynona Russell of Gainesville; grandchildren, John Darryl Russell of Callisburg, Donna Shell and husband, Kevin of Gainesville, Dana Raymond of Gainesville, April Carlquist and husband, Eric of Callisburg, Christina Tiffie and husband, Colin of Armstrong, OK, and David Harendt and wife Melissa of Blue, OK; daughter-in-law, Sherry Harendt of Atoka, OK; great-grandchildren, Holli Russell, Kasey Strickland, Corey Strickland, J.P. Russell, Steven LaSalle, Shawn LaSalle, Rusty Shell, Jackson and Conley Tiffie and Jacob and Olivia Harendt; great-great-grandchildren, Lance Perry, Gavin Wray, Taryn LaSalle, Ayden Baillio and Madison James, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and numerous nephews and nieces. Chester was preceded in death by his parents, wives, Lola Fay West Harendt and Katherine Hopkins Harendt; son, David Harendt, brother, Herman “Dick” Harendt and son-in-law, John C. Russell.
Services are under the direction of Meador-Clement-Keel Funeral Home. To sign the online registry, go to www.clementkeelfh.com.