Rev. William B. Harnish

Rev. William B. Harnish

Cedar Rapids

Rev. William B. Harnish, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 22, 2024, at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids. Memorial Service: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, with visitation to begin 30 minutes prior to the service. Inurnment: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Bill was born in Cedar Rapids, the son of William J. and Viola (Shelton) Harnish. He graduated from McKinley High School and The University of Iowa. Bill went to seminary school at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. He also went to Coe College in Cedar Rapids. While in college he was in the ROTC. He was a self-employed wedding chapel minister and participated in pulpit exchanges all over the world, including Scotland, England, Korea, and New Zealand. Bill loved dining out and riding his motorcycle. He volunteered at Jane Boyd Community House. Bill started the Citizen’s Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Bill also dedicated countless hours working with prisoners and victims of substance abuse. He received a personal invite to the White House by President Eisenhower to be a delegate for the Conference on Children & Youth. Bill championed many programs in Linn County fighting alcohol and drug abuse long before there was a national outcry. He was involved with the Linn County Mental Health Association for 18 years. Bill officiated countless funerals for those without a church home in Linn, Benton, and Johnson Counties, all without judgement.

Survivors include his children, John Harnish of Cedar Rapids, Debbie “Case” (Chuck Kentis) Harnish-Kentis of Woodland Hills, California, Joseph Harnish, Cathy Harnish and Peggy Harnish, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Avery, Noah, Jacob, Jordan, and Paige; and great-grandson, Hunter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Betty, Dolly, and Shirley; and daughter-in-law, Jilane Harnish.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Willis Dady Homeless Shelter or Cedar Valley Humane Society in Bill’s memory.

Please share a memory of Bill at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.