Joseph C. Hardebeck, age 81 of Elwood and Tipton County, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 18, 2016 at Miller's Merry Manor in Tipton following extended health complications. He was born April 2, 1934 in Elwood, the son of Paul and Mary (Hobbs) Hardebeck. Joe was a land and livestock farmer all of his life, operating Hardebeck Farms. He attended St. Joseph school in Elwood, and later graduated from Wendell L. Willkie High School in 1953. He was proud to serve his country in the U.S. Army during peacetime for 2 years, and later married Judith A. Stewart on January 28, 1961. Joe was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood, and formerly a member of the Elwood Lions Club and Brown-Swiss Livestock Association. He loved going to auctions to look at farm equipment and tools; tinkering with all sorts of farm-related things; and loved being around his livestock and his dog. He will be greatly missed by his family and numerous friends.

Joe's family includes his wife of 55 years, Judith A. Hardebeck of Elwood; daughter, Dixie Ann Davis of Elwood; son-in-law, Tom Davis of Sheridan; siblings, David Hardebeck of Tipton, Margaret McMahan of Chesterton,IN, Frances Tulowitzky of Elwood , Nancy (husband Terry) Downy of Fairmount, and Barbara Rivers of Elwood; 3 grandchildren, Nathan (wife Taylor) Davis, Audra Davis, and Garrett Davis; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 daughters, Kelly Lynn Hardebeck in 2010 and Donna Jo Hardebeck at birth; and sister, Norma Hardebeck.

Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at St. Joseph Cemetery in Elwood with Sister Rosie Coughlin officiating, and will include military honors conducted by the U.S. Army and Elwood V.F.W. Honor Guard. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood, and online condolences may be made at copherfeslermay.com.