Donald Frank Hardesty

April 6, 1931 – November 1, 2024

Donald Frank Hardesty, 93, Noblesville, went to the Lord on November 1, 2024.

Don was born on April 6, 1931, to Frank and Helen (Bleuler) Hardesty in Massillon, Ohio. He had one sister, Doris Mae Browarsky (deceased). He graduated from Washington High School in Massillon in 1949 and from George Williams College in Chicago in 1954, where he studied for work in the YMCA. After graduation, Don served in the Army Security Agency during the Korean War from 1954 to 1956.

When he returned from Korea, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Casper of Chicago on June 16, 1956. Together they have three children: Jody (Daniel) Metzelfeld, Donna (David) Mazanowski, and Todd (Kim) Hardesty. They also have 13 grandchildren: Daniel, Melissa, Steven, and Elizabeth (Craig Shelton) Metzelfeld; Catherine (Michael Roth), David (Kyra), Jacob (Samantha), Christina (Michiel Driessen), Isabel (Matthew Armstrong), Alexander, and Joshua Mazanowski; and Louie and Samantha Hardesty. What brought Don joy most recently in his life were seeing his 11 young great-grandchildren: Mila, Carter, Roman, Oliver, Griffin, Titus, Brayden, Peyton, Mateo, Georgia, and Evie.

Don’s philosophy in life, based on his favorite scripture in Romans 12 regarding personal responsibility, was “Make yourself more useful!” He made himself very useful in his faith and church, family, career, sports, and gardening, which were his greatest passions in life.

Since 1996, Don had been an active member of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church of Noblesville, where he served for many years as a leader of The Men’s Group and he taught an adult Sunday school class. He recruited (with clipboard in hand!) many volunteers for Fish Fry and Spaghetti Dinners, and he kept the church storage areas incredibly organized.

He had a loving, committed 68 years of marriage to Betty – a marriage worth admiring and emulating. He loved having fun and meaningful times with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, which included holding the babies, training in sports, playing games, lots of teasing, and talking to them and writing meaningful letters to them about important things in life.

For 27 years, he had a successful career as Physical Director, Program Director, and Executive Director for various YMCAs in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Don was an avid and successful athlete, and he worked hard to become excellent in each of the many sports he played. He was a proud member of George William’s National College Championship Volleyball team in 1952. Golf ultimately became his favorite sport, and he had served as President on the Indiana State Senior Golf Association. He and Betty enjoyed many years of bowling together in the Noblesville Senior Bowling League.

Don was also an avid gardener. In his younger years, he had beautiful and bountiful summer vegetable gardens and lush flowerbeds. He made himself more useful by becoming a self-taught master gardener.

A Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, November 21, at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 16000 Cumberland Road, Noblesville. Visiting with the family and a meal at the church will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Don to Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Noblesville.

Condolences: randallroberts.com