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Harlo R McKinty

Harlo McKinty, 93, of Apache Junction, AZ, passed away peacefully Tuesday night, September 7th, at the AJ Health Center of congestive heart failure. Harlo was born on February 23, 1928 in Rexburg, ID. He traveled a lot with his parents as a young man and lived in as many as 56 different towns before the 8th grade, in 7 states. He moved to Elmwood, IL to live with his grandparents for the last 3 years of high school. While there, he delivered news papers, worked at a service station and at the theatre selling popcorn, taking tickets and ushering. He started taking flying lessons during this time as well. Harlo joined the Navy at the age of 17. He had enough time in the Navy to get 4 years of dental school at the University of Nebraska and the rest of the time to get his private pilots license on the GI Bill. During this time he also worked at Eglin watch company. Harlo was married to Eileen Gooding on July 7th, 1949 before starting dental school in September. They had 2 sons Dan and David. They made their home in Lincoln and then McCook. Harlo later married Shirley Jarchow in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA on July 1st, 1973, who had 2 sons Jim and Robert. The newlyweds already had 2 grandchildren when they married. Harlo loved his ocupation in the dental field. He had his private practice for 16 years in McCook, NE. Then full time teaching at the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry and part time private practice until retirement in 1991. His obsession was in aviation ever since his first flight at age 4 from a barnstormer (stunt pilot) in Lamar, CO. He built his own plane from a set of plans with the help of knowledgeable and dedicated friends, equally as dedicated to aviation. That took 12 years of evenings and Saturdays. Upon retirement Harlo and Shirley lived in a motorhome for 10 years traveling all over the United States, Eastern Canada and Mazatlan, Mexico. They later came to settle in Apache Junction, AZ in Roadhaven Resort. They lived there many years in a park model before moving to Brookdale Independent and Assisted Living community because of health reasons. Melissa Doebler, a friend of 15 years came to care for Shirley in 2013 who later died in February 2015 of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis. She continued to care for all of Harlo’s needs until his death. He called her his adopted daughter. Harlo had a strong faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to which he was a lifelong member and felt blessed beyond comprehension all of his life. Harlo as survived by his son, Dan McKinty (Robin) of Lincoln, NE, 2 granddaughters, Valerie Andersen (Casey) and Dawn Koenig (Pat) and 8 great grandchildren. Harlo was preceded in death by his son David McKinty in 1991 and by his wife Shirley McKinty in 2015. Services will be held at the Peralta Trail Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1720 S Ironwood Dr, Apache Junction, AZ 85120. Services will be held at a later date. In liau of flowers we request a donation be made in Harlo’s name to Hospice At Home of AZ who rendered such special care in the end of Harlo’s life.