Joseph Michael Harris Sr.

Master Sergeant Joseph Michael Harris, Sr., USAF, Retired, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was born on August 17, 1946, in Louisville, Kentucky, to John L Harris, Sr., and Edna (Darst) Harris. He was the second of their 12 sons.

After serving two tours in Vietnam, most of Joe's 20 year military career was spent in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command, the operational establishment in charge of the country's land-based bomber aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles. He spent two tours in Turkey and was stationed in Montana and South Dakota. At his final duty station, Minot Air Force Base, Joe served as the Chief of a "missile crew" charged with guarding nuclear-tipped Minuteman Missiles buried in the prairies of North Dakota. After retiring from the military, Joe used his GI Bill to pursue a degree in Business Management at Minot State University and tried his hand at hobby farming, raising chickens, cows, hogs and sheep.

In 1992 Joe moved back to Kentucky and settled in Elizabethtown. After working for several years at a Louisville-based pipe supplier and a few other odd jobs, he fully retired in 2009.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying gardening, hunting and fishing or, in his case, drowning worms! He also enjoyed woodworking and made many special projects for his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 30 years, Shirley Harris; both parents; and three brothers; John Harris, Jr., James Harris, and Kenneth Harris.

He is survived by his children, Joseph Michael (Sherri) Harris, Jr., of Leitchfield, Kentucky; Brent (Kathy) Harris of Sweeden, Kentucky; Stephanie (Kendall) Hester of Cecilia, Kentucky; Stacey (Jay) Wiedewitsch of Duluth, Minnesota; Dana Magolis of Leitchfield, Kentucky; Shawn Foley of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; Mindy Harris of Leitchfield, Kentucky; Sarah (Robbie) Sapp of Lebanon, Kentucky; and Shane Harris of Hodgenville, Kentucky; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and 8 brothers.

Visitation for Joe will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025 from 5pm - 8pm at Brown Funeral Home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Visiting will resume on Friday, August 22, 2025 from 9am until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:30am. Burial is to follow at Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.