Hartnett, John Joseph "Jack"

Jack Hartnett lived an exceptional life. He was born to John and Emma (O’Halloran) Hartnett in Niagara Falls, NY in 1919. Jack spent his early years in Buffalo, NY but at 10 years of age, his family drove to Montana where his father worked as a cable splicer traveling throughout the State repairing AT&T long distance lines. After finally settling in Helena Jack attended Helena high school. A massive earthquake hit Helena in 1935 severely damaging the town and flattening the high school so two of Jack’s high school years were spent in railroad cars. Jack served as Senior Class President. From 1937 to 1941, Jack attended Carroll College where he played football as a Center and served as President of the Student Council. During his college years, he took flying lessons and received his pilot license enabling him to join the Navy as a naval aviator after college graduation. In 1940, he met the love of his life, Bette Jones, and they were married in 1942. They moved to New York City where Jack was assigned to Floyd Bennett Naval Air Station. Jack served in the Navy from 1941 to 1945. He was trained as a carrier pilot but went on to become a test pilot at Floyd Bennett. He tested most planes the Navy bought and then ferried them coast to coast to be used in the wars in the Pacific and Europe. Jack estimated that he tested or flew 5 to 6 airplanes every work day during his time at Floyd Bennett. After the war, the Hartnett’s moved to St. Maries Idaho where Jack owned and operated the Texaco distributorship. In the 1960s, the family settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Jack loved to fly. He owned 5 different airplanes in his lifetime. He flew throughout the Northwest and made flights regularly to Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ. In retirement, Jack and Bette spent winters in Mesa, AZ on Alta Mesa Golf Course not far from his eldest grandson, Mike Elmore, Mike’s wife, Jennifer, and their sons. Jack enjoyed playing golf with Mike at Silverado Golf Course and with his two great grandsons, Michael and Abe. Golf was Jack’s other passion. In retirement, he earned the “title” of the oldest golfer at his courses in Coeur d’Alene and Mesa, AZ. At 96 years of age he was able to play 18 hole rounds twice a week and score consistently in the low 90s. Jack leaves behind his brother, David, in Helena, MT and his 4 children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He was preceded in the death by his lovely wife, Bette, in 2009. The mass of celebration of life will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 26 at St. Thomas Catholic Church with a military burial following at St. Thomas Cemetery. Please visit Jack’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.Yatesfuneralhomes.com.