Jon S. Hardt

Jon Samuel Hardt passed away on January 26, 2026, after a brief illness and fall.

Jon came into this world on February 9th, 1935, in the middle of a Wisconsin snow storm. His father, the Reverend Samuel Hardt, hiked through the blizzard to retrieve the doctor. Returning to the Auroraville, Waushara County farm, Samuel found his wife, the Reverend Sadie Harrington Hardt, had delivered their first-born son with the assistance of Jon’s grandmother.

Jon became big brother to his little brother Aaron (Aune) Hardt, and little sister Sharon Hardt-Stull. The Hardt family moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin where Jon attended Oshkosh High School and was a “Tumble Bum” acrobat, track star, and ice skater. After the family moved in 1953, Jon graduated from Marshfield Sr. High School.

Jon attended the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and in 1957 earned a BS degree in Mathematics & Physics.

In 1959, he enlisted in the US Marine Corp. As a Lieutenant, he was a Sharpshooter, and instructed swimming and diving at Camp Pendleton, San Diego California.

During the summers of the early 60’s, Jon was the horseback riding instructor at Red Arrow Camp and Campo Fiesta in Northern Wisconsin.

Jon met Margaret “Peg” Johnson in 1960. The beautiful violinist caught his eye and the two were married on Thanksgiving Day 1962.

Jon graduated from IIT, Chicago, with a Masters of Mathematics in 1964. He then went on to be Assistant Mathematics Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh in 1964 and Assistant Mathematics Professor at the newly founded University of Wisconsin, Green Bay in 1965.

Jon retired from IBM after twenty-seven years of national and international assignments in Education Marketing.

He enjoyed playing piano by ear on his baby grand, traveling extensively with Peg, spending time at their Pardee Lake cottage, meeting his retired colleagues once a month at the Village Grill in Allouez for breakfast and fellowship, and jogging or working out at the YMCA.

Jon and Peg have two children: Beth (Dave) Ohlemacher, and Brian (Sisko) Hardt. They have five grandchildren: Ginger (Matt) Horner, Tyler (Breanna) Ohlemacher, Alex Hardt, Ellen Hardt, and Emily Hardt.

Jon leaves behind beloved family, nieces and nephews, in-laws, cousins, and many dear friends.

Per his wishes there will be no funeral. A celebration of life is being planned for a future date.

Donations may be made in memory of Jon to any of his favorite charities:

• The Nature Conservancy (nature.org/donate)
• Paul’s Pantry (paulspantry.org)
• Allouez Community Band (avbcommunityband.org)
• YMCA of Greater Green Bay (greenbayymca.org)

Special thanks to the Staff at Caretta Senior Living in Bellevue for all their care and assistance.