Jay E. Harms, 89, of Peoria, passed away at 3:20 a.m. on Wednesday March 10, 2010, at the Christian Buehler Home in Peoria.
He was born on December 14, 1920 in Peoria, the son of Edward A. and Helen (Canterbury) Harms. They preceded him in death, along with one brother and one sister. On May 3, 1947, he married Rita K. Haas in Peoria. She survives.
He is also survived by one daughter, Suzanne M. Himes of Peoria; four sons, Dr. James (Ellen) Harms of Champaign, Jay C. (Nancy) Harms of East Peoria, John T. Harms of Peoria and Allen E. Harms of Peoria.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Stephen (Jessica) Harms of Champaign, Leslie (Joseph) Rydberg of Chicago, Jill Harms of Champaign, Johanna Harms of Champaign, Jennifer (Michael) Mahle of Morton, Robert (Kristie) Harms of Bartonville, Kathryn Himes of Washington, D.C., Spencer Himes of Charleston, SC, Audrey Himes of Brooklyn, NY and Lindsay Harms of Peoria; and four great grandchildren.
He was an Army Air Corp Veteran, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant and was a navigator of a B-29.
Jay was the past owner of Standard Sheet Metal Works for 40 years, before his retirement in 1985. He was a charter member of the Peoria North Rotary Club, a member of the Richwoods-Peoria Heights Lions Club.
He was a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. He served as an officer in the Peoria Sheet Metal Association and served as an officer of the State Sheet Metal Association. He was a Counselor to the National Sheet Metal Association and served as a trustee for the Sheet Metal Workers Health and Welfare Fund.
Jay was also a member of the Construction Commission for the City of Peoria. He was a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on major construction. He was a member of the Construction Specification Institute (C.S.I) and the American Arbitration Association.
He enjoyed fishing, woodworking and listening to Classical music. He was a fan of Bradley Brave’s basketball and enjoyed spending his time at home or in the Florida Keys.
He was a member of St. Philomena Parish, where his Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2010, with Father Donald R. Henderson as celebrant. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 12, 2010, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 W. McClure Avenue, in Peoria. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum, with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Philomena’s Scholarship Fund or PARC.
Jay’s Memorial Website and online condolences may be accessed at www.ClaryFunerals.com.
