- Date Of Birth: September 18, 1933
- Date Of Death: January 27, 2021
- State: Illinois
Harold Gordon McHenry, 87, departed this life Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at home in the presence of his loving family. He was born a twin on September 18, 1933, to Dwight and Fern (Heiser) McHenry. His twin sister, Rosemary, was stillborn.
He graduated from Morton Community High School in 1951 and joined the Air Force, where he served for five years as an aircraft engine mechanic and instructor. He worked on the first airplanes adapted for aerial refueling and was placed in charge of a crew of mechanics.
Upon returning to Morton, Harold began his career at Caterpillar. Due to a recession, he was laid off and returned to the Air Force in 1957. He was transferred to France as crew chief (C47s), then Athens, Greece as engine mechanic on cargo planes (C130s). While there, Harold adopted his infant son Leroy. Discharged from the Air Force in 1963, he drove a semi-tractor-truck, then returned to Caterpillar, where he worked in the tool room as a builder and machinist. He retired in 1992 from tool design then worked for Design Systems in Morton.
He loved to work with stained glass and made beautiful windows and lamps as well as sun catchers. Loving planes as he did, he obtained his private pilot’s license and was a member of the Bradley flying club. After he stopped flying, he continued to enjoy flight simulators.
Harold is survived by his wife Norma, his daughter Kristen McHenry, her children, Joshua, Bryana, and Hannah Compton; his daughter in law Joanne McHenry, and her son Steven. He is also survived by his sister Mick Huette from Arizona and his brother David (Mary) McHenry from Illinois. He also leaves four great-grandchildren: Anthony, Ejay, Dalyn, and Charlie. He was preceded in death by his mother, Fern Heiser McHenry, his father, Dwight McHenry, his son, Leroy McHenry, and his brother in law, Gene Huette. His sister, Alice Hand, passed away three hours after Harold’s passing.
