Walter Harke's Obituary
HARKE, WALTER AUGUST, 90, German son of first generation immigrants, raised by his stern father and older sister in a speakeasy during the Great Depression, drafted at 18 as part of the Greatest Generation to fight his fellow Germans, guarded mentally ill veterans after the War, immediately fell in love with a long-legged, gorgeous Brooklyn Jew and meticulously converted to Judaism, had to elope and marry the love of his life Ruth twice to please his conservative future father-in-law, a believer of every word in the National Enquirer, sincerely believed Elvis was alive and eating burgers in Wichita, saved every dollar in separate envelopes he “hid” in the freezer, dedicated follower of no one’s fashion, wore matching bold colored outfits down to his glasses, lighter and transistor radio, loved Tom Jones and Dino, hated Frank Sinatra, was the most “Deli Jew” in the Universe, thought every egg foo young was the best he ever tasted, a world traveler who brought his family around the world many times over, cruise ship lover, midnight buffet frescher, the best musician to walk the face of the earth, proudly knew the lyrics and chords of more than 5000 songs, accordion teacher and band leader in NY in the 50s, Island Park real estate mogul, cut every blade of glass by hand (really), remembered where he put every dollar he ever earned, lived only and forever for his dear wife and his children, wonderful son-in-law who happily picked up his loving in-laws for every Jewish holiday, cut out breakfast coupons and stole rolls from Pumpernick’s, had his son’s bar mitzvah in 1978 catered by Christine Lee’s and everyone in brown leisure suits, never went to a ball game but was the best hand ball player in the Catskills, lived his life like it was his own but always always always for his beloved family. He will be missed. A funeral service is being planned for Sunday, August 27 at 2 PM at Levitt Weinstein at Beth David 3201 Northwest 72nd Avenue, Hollywood, FL 33024. Shiva will follow at the home of Ruth Harke in Century Village.1101 SW 128 Terrace, Apt. #C-312 Pembroke Pines, FL 33027. The family appreciates donations made in Walter's memory to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011.
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