Obituary of John Carl Harter Sr.

John “Jake” Carl Harter Sr. of Florida, NY, entered into rest on Thursday, June 17, 2021.  He was 89.

He was born on June 16, 1932 to the late Catherine “Katie” Jarosz and John Joseph Harter.  He was born, lived and worked in Florida, NY.

Jake graduated from S.S. Seward Institute.  He was a passionate baseball and basketball player.  He coached basketball for S.S. Seward High School and St. Joseph’s C.Y.O. Midget Basketball.  He was one of the founders, and a coach of the Florida Little League program.  He helped form the Orange County A.S.A. Softball Umpires Association.  Jake played baseball for the Florida American Legion team.  He loved to hunt, fish, and golf.

Jake dedicated his life to serve his family and community.  He served as Mayor of the Village of Florida for 28 years, March 1974 to March 2002.

He started his career as an onion farmer, was hired in 1959 by the United States Post Office to be the first walking letter carrier in the Village of Florida.  He became the Postmaster in January 1980 for the Village of Florida Post Office.  He was an active member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.

Jake was instrumental in helping to build the Village of Florida Water Works, Florida Little League fields, State Trooper Barracks, Village of Florida Public Library, Glenmere Park and the Florida Village Hall to name a few.  He was a member of the Florida Fire Department, and a past-member of the Florida Lions Club and Knights of Columbus.  He was also a member of the Florida Hunting Club, Black Bear Hunting Club and Wood Trail Hunting Club.

Jake was a kind man dedicated to making the Village of Florida a better place.  He was loved and adored by his family and friends.

He was predeceased by his loving wife, Leona Barbara (Brunswick) Harter.  Jake is survived by his six children, John Jr. (Lynn) of Florida, NY; Daniel of Florida, NY.  His daughters, Patricia (Frank) Rotella of Florida, NY; Lori Augustyn of Florida, NY; Sandra “Sam” (Warren) Johnson of Sebring, FL; Wendy (Damiano) “Nick” Basile of Holly, NY; seven grandchildren; Daniel, Jr. (Ashley) of Florida, NY; Jonathan (Ali) of Florida, NY; Jeremy (Crystal) of Port Jervis, NY; John (Jack) III (Christina) of Warwick, NY; Janice (Thomas) Orr of Montgomery, NY; Jillian (Joseph) Lima of Albany, NY; and Michael Augustyn of Florida, NY; six great grandchildren; Nathan Harter, Joey & Jason Lima; John (Jake) Harter IV and the twins, Kenneth & Kendall Orr.  He is further survived by his “special family” Jeannie “Sis” Langlitz; Stas & Conrad Olejniczak.

Due to COVID 19 restrictions and guidelines set forth, face coverings are optional for those who have been vaccinated to enter the funeral home and the church requires masks for all of those in attendance.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 3-7PM at T.S. Purta Funeral Home, 22 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY 10921.  Firematic services will be held Wednesday 7PM at the funeral home.

Funeral Mass will be held 10AM Thursday, June 24^th at St. Joseph Church, 20 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY 10921.

Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Florida, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Public Library, 4 Cohen Circle, Florida, NY 10921.