Michael Harkovich1896 Michael Harkovich, 72, of Boise, Idaho, a decorated World War II veteran who was captured by the Germans, died Oct. 9 in a Boise hospital. He was the husband of the former Lucy Lee Brooks. The couple celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5.
Born in McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, and raised in Scranton, he was a son of the late John and Mary Evanco Harkovich. He was a graduate of Technical High School and served in the Air Force during World War II. During a mission over Germany, he was forced to bail out of his airplane and was captured and held in a prison camp for more than five months. For his military service he was awarded a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Purple Heart and a POW Medal. After the war he was employed in Idaho by Consolidated Freightways and Standard Brands Inc. and worked for 30 years for Idaho Food Products. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the American Ex-Prisoners of War Inc. He was an avid softball player and bowler who was inducted into the Boise Bowling Hall of Fame.
He also is survived by two daughters, Anna Leister, Boise, and Debby Owings, Caldwell, Idaho; a son, Johnny, Seattle, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Anna Harkovich, Mary. Meinhart and Helen Hutsko, all of Scranton; and two brothers, Johnny, Scranton, and George, Boise.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Junior Bowlers, 2112 N. 26th St., Boise, Idaho 83702 or the Disabled American Veterans.