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John Joseph “Jack” Hartnett, 96
Jack Hartnett lived an exceptional life. He is remembered for his honesty, kindness, wit and his longevity on the golf course.
He was born to John and Emma (O’Halloran) Hartnett in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in 1919. Jack spent his early years in Buffalo, N.Y., with other Irish immigrant families from County Kerry. At 10 years of age, his father needed a warmer, dryer climate for his health, so his parents, Jack and two sisters piled into a Model-T Ford and set out for Arizona.
Finding no work in Arizona, the family drove to Montana, where his father worked as a cable splicer traveling throughout the state repairing AT&T long-distance lines. After finally settling in Helena, Jack attended Helena High School. A massive earthquake struck the area in 1935 severely damaging the town and flattening the high school. Jack’s last two years in school were spent in railroad cars. Despite the cold of the train cars and the unusual surroundings, the students continued with their activities. During that time Jack was active in many activities including yearbook editor and senior class president.
From 1937 to 1941, Jack attended Carroll College in Helena where he played football as a center and again showed his leadership qualities as president of the student council. During his college years, he took flying lessons and received his pilot license enabling him to join the Navy and become a naval aviator after college graduation. In the summer of 1940 he met the love of his life, Bette Jones. They were married in 1942 and moved to New York City, where Jack was assigned to Floyd Bennett Field Naval Air Station. Jack served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. He was trained as a carrier pilot, then went on to become a test pilot. He tested most every plane the Navy bought and then ferried them coast to coast to be used in the wars in the Pacific and Europe. Jack estimated that he tested or flew five to six airplanes every day during his time at Floyd Bennett.
After the war, Jack and his young family moved to St. Maries, Idaho, where he owned and operated the Texaco distributorship. One of Jack’s proudest memories of St. Maries was organizing a local flying club. Several men in the community joined in to buy a plane and build the first hangar that still stands today. Jack was instrumental in lobbying the FAA to provide funds to upgrade the airstrip and improve other facilities at the St. Maries airport. He enjoyed participating in community groups like the Elks, where he was exalted ruler in 1950-51.
He moved his family to Coeur d’Alene in the early 1960s after buying the Texaco distributorship from Reid Brothers. Besides growing his new business and being active in various petroleum industry organizations, he continued to fly, golf and serve on the Coeur d’Alene Golf Course board. He served on the IHM High School athletic board and drove the football bus in the 1960s.
Jack loved to fly. He owned three different airplanes in his lifetime including a twin-engine Bamboo Bomber. He also served on the Coeur d’Alene Airport Advisory Board. He flew friends and family throughout the Northwest and made regular flights to Arizona. He and his wife, Bette, flew his Piper Tri Pacer from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to Mazatlán, Mexico, in the late 1950s.
Golf was Jack’s other passion. He earned the “title” of the oldest golfer at his courses in Coeur d’Alene and Mesa, Ariz. Up to and including 96 years of age he golfed 18-hole rounds twice a week with his consistent scores in the low 90s. In 2011, Jack was featured in the Coeur d’Alene Press for his golf game at 92 and for the seventh annual JJ Hartnett Invitational Golf Tourney. Four generations of family and friends from as far away as Philadelphia, Arizona, and Colorado come each year to join Jack in his golf event.
Jack Hartnett lived a full and exciting life with a positive outlook and a commitment to his family. Above all, he will be remembered as a wonderful father and grandfather, a loving husband, an active member of his church and community and an enterprising business man.
Jack leaves behind his brother, David, in Helena, Mont., and his four children and their spouses; Daryl Hartnett, Suzanne (Ken) Cox, John (Patricia) Hartnett, Maureen (Chet) Reilly; his 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Bette, in 2009.
A vigil/wake will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. The mass of celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, with a military burial following at St. Thomas Cemetery. A reception at the Coeur d’Alene Resort will follow burial.
The family suggests memorial donations in Jack’s name to Hospice of North Idaho or a charity of your choice. Please visit Jack’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.