Barbara J. Rude-Harkness

Barbara J. Rude-Harkness (58), of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Indiana University North Hospital. She spent her final days surrounded by her beloved family.

Born September 15, 1966 at St. Joseph Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, Barbara was the youngest of six children of Omer and Nelda (Roth) Rude. A 1985 graduate of Maconaquah High School in Miami County, Barbara was a very active student, competing on the tennis team, performing as a cheerleader, and becoming a member of the art club. Barbara’s love of music was realized as she played flute in the school’s band and later joined the flag and rifle corps. Her senior year she was elected Vice President of her class.

Barbara followed her passions in college at Herron School of Art and Design, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, majoring in graphic design and minoring in photography. She was a standout student and won many awards for her paintings, photography, and graphic design projects. During her first job as a Graphic Designer for Grand Slam, Barbara designed pins for the Beatles, Gibson Guitar, Team USA Basketball, the1996 Olympics and the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. While working at Grand Slam, Barbara met her future husband Jerald Harkness. The two enjoyed a lifelong loving bond, and welcomed two beautiful daughters into their lives: Kara Joanne Harkness (b. 2000) and Kiley Adele Harkness (b. 2004).

Together, Barbara and Jerald launched Studio Auteur, a content creation company in 2017, collaborating on a number of award winning projects, including “The Election Effect,” “True First” a docu-drama series, “The Bright Path: The Johnny Bright Story.” Most recently, Barbara’s iconic graphic design and art direction was showcased in the award-winning documentary “When Everyone Swims.” Her work has been featured and pitched to a number of networks and streaming services including PBS, Tubi, CBS Sports Network, Paramount TV, NatGeo, ABC News/Hulu, Amazon, and Apple TV. Network executives, producers, talent and crew always described Barbara’s design talents as exceptional and on par with any other art director in the entire industry.

In addition to her design work, Barbara also worked at St. Monica’s Catholic School for ten years, starting as a Teacher’s Assistant. In 2024, she was promoted to the school’s art teacher and was beloved by faculty and students alike, inspiring and encouraging others with her love for art. Barbara was an exceptional talent as a graphic designer and teacher, but she was blessed other talents as well. Her family will always remember her beautiful singing voice, her perfectionism in her craft, her great impersonations, and her infectious sense of humor. Barbara loved nature, being outdoors, animals, flowers, and she always put the needs of others ahead of her own.

Above everything else in this world, Barbara treasured her daughters Kara and Kiley. She shared her passion for the arts, music, film and television with her girls by taking them to museums, concerts, and movies. In addition to her adored girls, Barbara is also survived by her loving husband, Jerald Harkness; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary Ann Angell and husband Kevin; Myra Moser and husband Todd; sister-in-law Mary Rude; sister-in-law Julie Arnold; nephews and nieces Charlie Angell; Sam Angell and wife Madeline Cotter; Chase Moser; Drew Moser; Anna Grace Arnold, and Ashlyn Arnold; Mothers in Law Judith Harkness and Sarah Harkness. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Rex, Dennis, and David Rude; and her grandparents Sylvester and Emma Rude and Harold and Veda Roth as well as her Father in Law Jerry Harkness.

A visitation for friends and family will be held Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 3:00-6:00 p.m., at Leppert Mortuary located in Nora, 740 E. 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Friends and family may honor Barbara by wearing orange, her favorite color.