Harlan Warden

Harlan Warden, 70, of Melbourne, Iowa passed away on July 11, 2019 in the comfort of his own home.    At this time no formal services for Harlan are scheduled. Memorials in Harlan’s name may be directed to his family. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641)844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Harlan and his family.    Harlan David Warden was born on February 4, 1949 in Marshalltown, Iowa to parents Leonard and Doris (McKeighan) Warden. He graduated high school from Van Cleve and went on to continue his education to receive a bachelor’s degree. He was a very smart guy and worked for IBM and building different computer systems.    Anybody who knew Harlan knew that he was a friend who liked to joke around with you. He was very fond about going to the Van Cleve Alumni group every year to get together with old neighbors and friends. The last few years he was not able to attend due to health problems.    In his free time, Harlan enjoyed trips to the library and book stores, train shows, Diet Coke, coffee, Kathy’s meatloaf, being with different friends from his train groups, putting together train models, and hooking up the connection for them. He worked for a company who put together computers and was very good at his job. Harlan could sit on the phone if he wasn’t in front of you and be able to talk you through the computer issue even if that meant it took a couple of hours. He was able to do this up until the declining of his health. You would always find him with a camera in hand. He enjoyed going on countless road trips when he was able and would have many stories to tell with his good friend Kathy Wood. The two would still go on road trips together even after his health declined. Kathy would take care of the driving. Harlan and Kathy would turn on NPR and listen to the radio together while it was still good. He was a fan of Fox news, especially Hannity and Harlan was a proud Republican. He loved our flag, our veterans, and the United States of America.    Left to cherish his memory are his two children Alex and Kelly; siblings Pat, Nancy, and Dan (who lives on the century farm); his good friend Kathy wood; and his furry four-legged companion Jesse who was his 23 lbs. grey and white cat.    In death, Harlan rejoins his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents who lived on their four-generation farm, and his furry four-legged companions, Squeak and Noisy.