John Bolyard Harshberger Sr.

John Bolyard Harshberger, Sr. (77), our beloved husband, father, and papa, made his heavenly ascension on February 1, 2026.

The only child of Russell and Dorotha, John was born in Washington D.C. on June 15, 1948. After spending the first decade of his life in West Virginia, the family relocated to Tucson, Arizona.

John’s love of music began early in life. A saxophonist with the Flowing Wells High School band, the musical gene was passed to his children – all of whom played various instruments. Whether singing golden oldies on family road trips, the smooth country ballads of Alan Jackson when he was driving truck, or Ave Maria at Mass, it was obvious John felt every note, every word in his soul.

John proudly served our country for over twenty years with the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves. While serving active duty in the Philippines, John received a commendation for the search and rescue of missing persons in collapsed buildings - which were the result of a massive earthquake. A mechanic on C-130 airplanes, his knowledge and passion for learning carried over to all aircraft. Throughout his life, if he looked to the sky and could visualize the undercarriage of a plane, he could identify it - and tell anyone within earshot every interesting quality or fact of said plane.

An avid reader, observer, and storyteller, John had the unique ability to connect with anyone. His kindness and unpresumptuous ways allowed him to meet people where they were. Whether that was collaborating with his colleagues on the Albany Airport Advisory Commission, helping clients he served as a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, developing kids he coached through AYSO and the Albany Boys and Girls Club, advocating for and guiding people he supervised when he worked at Evanite Fiber, training volunteers he oversaw in the two decades he was a hot air balloon crew chief, or spending time with “The Breakfast Club”, John always had a story or a joke to tell.

A man of principle and deep faith, John’s commitment and dedication to the church was evident in all he did. From his days as a youth group leader in Arizona to being a presenting couple at Marriage Encounter, a Eucharistic Minister, a Sacristan, lector, altar server, and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Oregon, John mirrored the teachings of the gospel. ALL people were welcomed, respected, loved, and treated as equals in his home.

John considered himself one of the “lucky ones” for following his passion and spending most of his working life doing what he loved – driving big trucks. He started in Arizona, working for AmeriCon Freight Forwarding. After moving to Oregon, he reveled in transporting heavy equipment and driving dump trucks for Wildish, cement and dump trucks for Morse Brothers, and chip trucks for Willamette Industries and Weyerhaeuser.

Above all else that John did and accomplished in life, he was most proud of the family he created with his beloved wife of fifty-four years, Margie. Their children and grandchildren - Julia (Sandy Ragan), John Jr. (Sara, Brock, Claire, Grant), Richard (Sarah, Keegan, Abigail), and Trisha Stout (Josh, Penny, James) – carry on John’s legacy of practicing kindness and humbly helping others.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either Willamette Valley Cancer Institute or Mt. Angel Seminary.

John’s funeral mass will be held at St Mary Catholic Church in Eugene, Oregon at 12:15 on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The rosary will be said at 11:30.

Interment at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon February 27, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

444 Forever