Harry Christian Simonsen

Long-time Morgan Hill resident Harry Christian Simonsen passed away of natural causes Tuesday December 10, 2013 at the age of 88. He was preceded in death by Bonnie, his beloved wife of 51 years, and his eldest son Wade. The only child of Christian Simonsen and Emma Houser, Harry was born April 8, 1925 in Berkeley, CA. He spent most of his youth in Gilroy, graduating from Gilroy High School in 1943. Harry enlisted in the U.S. Navy upon graduation and was sent to UC Berkeley. After the war ended, he and his first wife Elizabeth (Dusty) Rhodes founded Simonsen Laboratories on the family farm in Gilroy, which he operated until his retirement in 1990.

Harry met and married Bonnie in 1958 and moved to Morgan Hill where they raised their family. Mom and Dad shared a love for baseball, playing bridge, travel, and entertaining. Giants fans from their first date, Harry and Bonnie regularly attended spring training in Palm Springs. They traveled to Europe and Australia after his retirement, where they made life-long friends. They maintained second residences in Palm Springs and later Pacific Grove where they enjoyed entertaining their many friends and hosted all of the holidays for the family.

Harry is survived by five of his children Jeanne Alkire (Randy Beaver), Laurie Perez (David), Christian Simonsen Sr. (Karen), Eric Simonsen (Carol Ayers), Sean Simonsen Sr. (Michele), and his 14 grandchildren. He leaves behind cousins Jean Hauser and Viola Hauser, in-laws Ed Johnson, Jr. (Sandy) and Ruth Johnson, nieces and nephews Christie Gamble, Judy Guardino, Paul Corbin, Pat Lua, and their children.

Harry will be greatly missed by family, friends, and former coworkers. A memorial service will be held at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church 17740 Peak Ave Morgan Hill, CA at 11:00 AM Saturday January 11, 2014 followed by a reception and celebration of Harry’s life to be held at Mama Mia’s 275 E Dunne Ave, Morgan Hill after the service. Donations can be made to St. John the Divine Episcopal Church building fund.