North Hornell-Randy J. Harkenrider, 44, of 427 Cleveland Ave., died following a brave and heroic battle with cancer.
Born in Bellevue, NE on August 30, 1970, he lived most of his life in the Hornell area. He was a graduate of Hornell High School (class of 1989) and later attended Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua and also SUNY Alfred. He also served in the US National Guard.
Randy had been employed as a Corrections Officer prior to moving to Colorado where he worked as an Electrical Foreman and Project Manager for 10 years. He returned to Hornell in 2006 and was employed at Advanced Transit Manufacturing (ATM), as Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
Randy was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. He had a genuine interest in local government and served as 3rd Ward City Alderman for several years. He had a love of sports and was an avid Oakland Raider Football and Nebraska Football fan. He lent his love of sports to coaching youth football in both Hornell and Colorado. An avid outdoorsman, Randy enjoyed hunting and fishing. Throughout the years he went on several hunting trips to places including Colorado, Canada, California and New Mexico. He recently went on a fishing trip to Alaska.
Above all Randy enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a very devoted husband and father. He would not miss any of Leah, Sam and Ryan’s sporting or school functions. Whenever you would see Randy you would see this fun loving, full of life guy that would do anything for anyone at any time. His smile was contagious and brought much joy to everyone with whom he had contact. Randy has many, many friends that will cherish the memories that were made throughout his life time.
Randy enjoyed pushing himself at various competitions. He was a 3-time finisher of the Tough Mudder, participating in the last one while undergoing cancer treatment. In addition to running several 5K races, Randy was proud to have taken part in the “Tillman Run” which is named after former football great, Pat Tillman, who was killed in action in Afghanistan. He also ran this race while undergoing cancer treatment.
He was preceded in death by his Father, Samuel “Jim” Dineen along with several members of the Dineen, Harkenrider, Flint & Kull Families.
He was married on November 24, 2001 to the former Susan “Crete” Crowley who survives. Also surviving are 2 daughters, Leah & Samantha Harkenrider; 1 son, Ryan Harkenrider; his mother, Mary Dineen; his sister, Christine (Earl) Rawleigh, niece Nikki Rawleigh, nephews Jordan and Toby Rawleigh, Joseph (Kathy) Flint, Alex, Spencer and Elliot Flint. Robert (Debbie) Dineen, Katie, Megan and Linzy Dineen. His In-laws; Joseph and Janet Crowley, Robert (Tracy) Crowley, Stephen (Yvonne) Crowley, Katheen Crowley (Christopher Murtha) and nieces Mia and Kirra Crowley; as well as many members of the Flint, Harkenrider, Dineen, Kull & Crowley families.
The family of Randy J. Harkenrider will receive friends on Thursday, February 12 from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday (February 13, 2015) at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Randy’s family request that instead of sending flowers, family & friends honor his memory by making a memorial contribution in his name to the Hornell YMCA, 18 Center St., Hornell, NY 14843 or to the Pat Tillman Foundation, 217 N. Jefferson St., (Suite 602), Chicago, IL 60661. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home.
In honor of Randy’s service to his country by serving in the US National Guard, the American Flag at the Dagon Funeral Home will be flown at half-staff.
To leave an online condolence or print a memorial form, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com
