Robert B Haarde

Robert “Bob” Banker Haarde, 87, of Sudbury Ma, formerly of Sparta, NJ, passed away peacefully of natural causes on April 19, 2011. Bob was born on October 5, 1923 in Englewood NJ to William Haarde and Edith Gilbert Haarde and resided in Dumont, Teaneck, East Orange and Chatham NJ as a child.

On December 8, 1941, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy and served his nation honorably during WWII aboard the USS Texas in the North Atlantic and the USS Alabama in the South Pacific where he was a 16” Gun Captain and awarded battle stars for his service during the Pacific campaign. Bob also served as Senior 1st Class “hard hat” Diver in the Philippines.

After WWII, Bob settled in Lake Mohawk, Sparta NJ, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, archery, swimming, diving, snow-skiing, water-skiing, skating and many other outdoor activities. In 1961, Bob married Peggy Greenhalgh Lane. Bob had two children, Robert Christopher and Lisa Marie and three stepsons, Jeffrey, Kerry and Randy Lane, and loved and adored all of them very much. Bob worked as a liquid rocket technician at Picatinny Arsenal and then started his own business, Bob Haarde Plumbing and Heating, which was well known throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s for his hard work and achievement. He later started another business called Spartan Home Inspection, which was another successful endeavor during the 1980’s and 1990s. Bob’s work ethic and integrity made him an able provider for his family and a mainstay of the Sparta community.

Bob was a tireless volunteer. He was Treasurer of the Sparta Rotary Club, Chairman of the Sparta Board of Appeals, Founder of the Lake Mohawk Ski Hawks, founding member of the Spartan Club, founding member of the Sparta Football Booster Club, and a volunteer for Sparta Little League Football and Baseball. Bob was a volunteer announcer for Sparta football and baseball games from the late 1950’s until the early 1980’s. In the winters, Bob would organize youth ice-skating and hockey events at the Lake Mohawk Country Club boardwalk, where he was a long-time member. Bob was an avid photographer of youth sports and enjoyed giving action photos to young athletes. Bob spent over 60 years of his life living on and around Lake Mohawk helping others enjoy life as much as he did. His spirit, compassion and humor will be missed by many.

Bob is survived by his former wife, Peggy Welch of Boca Raton FL, daughter Lisa Scarpa of Lake Worth, Fl, son Robert Haarde and daughter-in-law Michelle Haarde of Sudbury, MA, stepson Jeff Lane of Delray Beach, Fl, stepson Dr. Kerry Lane of West Palm Beach Fl, loving grandchildren Brandon Zeinert, Logan Holloway, Bobby Haarde, Tessa Haarde and Jake Haarde, brother Harry Haarde and sister-in-law Peg Haarde of Scottsdale Az, and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Bob is predeceased by his stepson Randall Lane, sister Dorothy Jensen, and brother-in-law Russell Jensen.

Arrangements are being made by Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St. Sparta NJ. 973-729-5530.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Sparta Little League Football, PO Box 332, Sparta NJ 07871, or to the Factor V Leiden National Blood Clot Alliance at www.stoptheclot.org.

A public memorial service will be held on Saturday April 30th at 11:00AM at the Presbyterian Church, 32 Main St. Sparta NJ with interment following in the Sparta CemeteryArrangements under the direction of Goble Funeral Home, Sparta, NJ.