Harmon Alden Dudd • 1912-2007

Harmon Dudd, a legendary figure at Klinger Lake and a friend to many lake residents, passed away on September 22, 2007. As a boy I knew Harmon well, since my aunt (Ethel Jacobek) and I visited his Klinger Lake Marina often to purchase gasoline and other supplies. I still have the 1958 Evinrude "Lightwin 3" outboard motor Harmon sold us for $125 (and it still works)! You may have seen it occasionally on the back of our Starcraft "Sea Scamp" 12' aluminum rowboat, also purchased from Harmon Dudd when I was 5 years old. One day I told my aunt that I wanted to go up the creek to see Tamarack Lake. It was then that Harmon sold us two used paddles-- one long one and one short one-- that he thought we could use with the boat. He told my aunt to sit on one side in the back of the boat and push with the short paddle while I sat on the other side in the front and steered with the long paddle. I still have the paddles, and I've used them every summer since then.

I was fortunate to have the privilege of visiting Harmon Dudd earlier this summer when he was still doing very well at Bowman House in Three Rivers. I took the picture of him that appears above on June 22, 2007. There are more pictures of Harmon in the People album in the Klinger Lake Photos section. Although he hadn't seen me since I was a young man, he remembered me. He told many interesting stories, and then he played a few tunes on the piano. He loved to play, and he could improvise beautifully. I intended to return this fall and record some of his recollections in his own words, but unfortunately it was too late. I hope his family will one day share them with us.

-- Edgar Reihl, KLA Webmaster

Here is Harmon Dudd's obituary notice as published in the Sturgis Journal:

THREE RIVERS - Harmon Alden Dudd, age 95, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at the Bowman House in Three Rivers.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1912, in Lansing at the home of his grandmother Jenny May King Shafer. A descendant of early area settlers, he was the son of Clarence Merton and Lillian Ruth (Shafer) Dudd and lived his entire life in the area.

Harmon attended schools in Fabius Township and Three Rivers, graduating from Three Rivers High School in 1930 where he was a member of the track team and held the record for pole-vaulting for many years. He later graduated from Michigan State College in 1935, where he obtained a degree in Business Administration and was a member of the track team, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, ROTC, and was a lifelong Spartan fan.

On Oct. 8, 1938, he married Marion Janet Hales in Chicago. They met at Fisher Lake where he rented an outboard motor to Marion's father. Marion preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 1997 after 58 years of marriage.

Harmon began renting fishing boats at Corey Lake as a boy, the beginning of a long career in the boat business which spanned over 60 years with locations at Corey Lake, Three Rivers, Diamond Lake, Cassopolis, St. Joseph River, Elkhart, Ind., and finally at Klinger Lake, Sturgis. He also served in the South Pacific on Tarawa in World War II and proudly wore his uniform, marching over 50 years with the Arthur E. Stears Post of the American Legion in Memorial Day Parades in Constantine.

Harmon and Marion were active in their church, the St. Joseph County Republican Party, the St. Joseph County Historical Society and he was a former Constantine Rotarian. As a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, he was dedicated to promoting healthy living and especially anti-smoking campaigns. A gifted musician, he went to nursing homes in the area to provide piano music. A promoter of education, he mentored many area youth as his employees at his marina businesses. Harmon was also an active supporter of the Pregnancy Helpline in Three Rivers, the movement against pornography, cleaning roadsides and our waterways of trash, and planted many trees with the assistance of Boy Scouts and church youth in the area.

Harmon fought a good fight, treasuring his relationship with his Lord and his family.

Surviving Harmon are his four children, Rebecca Shank, Three Rivers, Jacqueline (Denis) Donnelly, Saratoga Springs, NY, Christine (Bruce) Carlson, Naples, Fla., and David (Kayette) Dudd, Portage; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one brother John (Joan) Dudd, Three Rivers, and 2 nephews John (Jennifer) Dudd, Jr. and Robert (Yukimi) Dudd. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Relatives and friends will be received Wednesday at the Eley Funeral Home in Constantine from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., with Masonic Services at 7 pm.. Funeral Services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Eley Funeral Home with Reverend Terry Neumayer of Trinity Missionary Church in Constantine officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers on a site facing that of his great- great-great-grandparents. Memorials contributions may be made to the Memorial Tree Fund for Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers Health Hospice, or to the Riverview Park in Constantine.