Obituary of John H. Harstad

Belchertown- John H. Harstad (82) passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by love with his step children by his side. He will be deeply missed and will always hold a special place in our hearts.

John was born on July 8, 1940 in St. Paul, MN. John was the son of Harold Harstad and Agnes Vera (Hogg) Harstad. The family moved to Panama Canal Zone in 1941, where John’s father worked for the Department of the Navy. In 1952, due to his father’s poor health, the family moved back to Minnesota.

John served 8 years in the United States Airforce from 1957 to 1965, Airman 2nd Class, as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He also dedicated many of his work years as an exterminator.

John enjoyed Bass fishing, hunting and the Minnesota Vikings. As former president of the Swift River Gun Club, he was immensely involved in organizing many yearly events, including fish fry’s, clam bakes, kids Christmas parties, pig roasts and turkey shoots.

He was an amazing husband, father, brother and grandfather and his family was always his number one priority.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley (Plante) Harstad; his parents, Harold and Agnes Vera (Hogg) Harstad; brother, Alexander (aka Sandy) Harstad; sister, Phyllis (Ewing) Harstad; and his step-sons, Wayne C. Mitchell & Roy J. Allen.

John leaves behind his sister, Margie (Telschow) Harstad and her husband Jerry of Maplewood, MN; step-children, Deborah Banas of Easthampton, MA, Thomas Mitchell and partner Therese Leab of Belchertown, MA, Sandra Coty and partner Robert Shaw of Belchertown, MA, Raymond Mitchell and partner Leighton Chighizola of Violet, LA, Sharon Allen of Poulsbo, WA, and David Allen and wife Nancy of Belchertown, MA; grandson, Andrew Coty and wife Linda of Chicopee, MA; granddaughter, Becky (Coty) McAlinden and husband Declan of Ballymartin, IE; granddaughter, Caitlin Mitchell; grandson, Timothy Sharrow of Springfield, MA; grandson, Jarrod Allen of Springfield, MA; granddaughter, Marissa Allen; grandson, RJ Allen; as well as many nieces, great nieces, nephews and great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on December 5, 2022 at 11:00am at the MA Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Please meet directly at the cemetery.

For those wishing to honor his memory, In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project by visiting https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org or Hospice Foundation of America by visiting https://hospicefoundation.org.