Fred H. Hardesty

Fred H. Hardesty, 76, of Union, passed away in the early morning hours on November 21, 2024. Mr. Hardesty, the son of the late Fred J. and Willella E. (Kelsay)Hardesty, was born on April 20, 1948, in St. Louis, MO. He received his education from Hazelwood High School in Spanish Lake, MO. Following high school, he served his country honorably as a member of the United States Army from 1968-1970 where he was a machinist and went on to serve in the United States Army Reserves from 1970-1978. On October 14, 1983, he was united in marriage to Janice Richards.

Fred loved to go fishing and watch St. Louis Cardinals baseball games. He enjoyed playing card games, watching Westerns on TV, car restoration shows and college football, but most of all, he loved time with family, and his two glasses a day of whiskey and coke. He always had a story and a joke to tell. There were two things dad wanted before he left this earth, and that was to see the age of 75, and to have a great-grandchild. You got your wish dad. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by; sister, Carol Anne Hardesty who passed away in infancy; wife, Janice Hardesty; daughter-in-law, Lynn Hardesty, and his beloved canine companion, Bandit.

Among his survivors are his children, Lisa (Hardesty) Huie and husband Joel of Smithton, IL, Steven Hardesty of Fairview Heights, IL, Christian Hardesty of Washington, MO, and Carol Hardesty of Washington, MO; siblings, John Hardesty and wife Paula of Branson, MO and Charlie Hardesty and wife Linda of Galena, MO; grandchildren, Derek Cummins and fiance Lacey Boyer, Blake Cummins and fiance Catherine Stauffenecker, Tyler Cummins, Christian Hardesty II, Kyra Hardesty, Cory Hardesty, Kolby Hardesty, and Shelby Hardesty; great-grandson, Jace Allen Cummins; and many loved ones and friends.

A visitation will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 9 a.m for immediate family, and then from 10-11 a.m for all other family and friends at Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home in Washington, Mo, with a service beginning at 11 a.m. Interment, with full military honors will be at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. 

For those who wish to remember Fred, please consider making memorial donations to the Wounded Warriors Project in his honor. The family would also like to extend our sincere thanks and deep gratitude to the Mercy Hospice nurses for keeping our dad comfortable during his final days.

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