Randy G. Harmson Died January 12, 2020

                                                                                        Randy G. Harmson
                                                                                         Died Jan. 12, 2020

NORTHPORT - Randy Gene Harmson, 72, of Northport, Michigan passed away peacefully at sunset on January 12, 2020, at Munson Medical Center following a four-year battle with cancer (plasma cell leukemia).

Randy was born April 26, 1947 to Lloyd and

Doris (Josephson) Harmson in Muskegon, Michigan. Randy graduated from North Muskegon High School in 1965 and served his nation for three years in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst during the Vietnam Conflict. Randy was awarded The Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.

Upon discharge from the service Randy initially pursued his education at Davenport University where he met the love of his life, Jo (Boggio). They were engaged on January 12, 1972, and were married on July 8, 1972, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Randy and Jo moved to Mt. Pleasant where Randy attended Central Michigan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in Social Science from Michigan State University and completed the Export Academy Executive Development Program at Eli Broad Graduate School of Management and International Business. 

Through the course of his life, Randy worked for the City of Mount Pleasant, CUFA, the State of Michigan, Michigan Farm Bureau, Wray Castle, Inc. and

owned a consulting business. His keen interest in Michigan agriculture developed while working for the State of Michigan Agriculture Department and he became intimately involved in the northern Michigan cherry industry while working for Michigan Farm Bureau. His involvement with Michigan agriculture and the cherry industry heavily influenced his and Jo’s decision to move to Northport.

Randy was an avid sportsman. He fur-trapped as a teenager and developed a lifelong passion for fly fishing. At North Muskegon High School he played both football and basketball, he canoed, kayaked, loved downhill and cross country skiing, sailing, and particularly enjoyed hiking through northern Michigan forests hunting for morel mushrooms. Jo’s father dubbed Randy the “Timber Cruiser.” Throughout Randy’s life, his international business endeavors and personal travel took him to Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, and Europe. Randy’s love of everything MSU “Go Green/Go White” football (and basketball) found him tailgating with cherished friends and family on Autumn Saturdays. Randy and his son Pete competed with one another in an annual MSU football season win/loss prediction, with an exchange of officially postmarked letters. It was Pete and Randy’s greatest football event when they attended the 2014 Rose Bowl to see MSU beat Stanford.

Once retired, Randy dedicated himself to helping others in the Northport Community and Leelanau County as a dedicated member of the Northport

Lion’s Club, with a special love for the Lion’s annual “Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast.” Randy was also a member of the Leelanau County Land Bank Authority and Leelanau County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority hoping to preserve the beauty and productivity of Leelanau County.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of forty-seven years, Jo; his son and best friend, Peter Sean (Jill) Harmson; two siblings, Susan Marie (Keith) Corbin, Kathleen Diane (Stanley) Guy; two sisters-in-law, Taya Lawrence and Jody Crosbie; his nieces and nephews, Robert (Carrie) Hoppa, Jodi (Frank) Buzas, Kari (Jeff) Cottrell, Ryan (Angela) Corbin, Kelly (Sean) O’Connor, Ryan (Shannon) Lawrence, Kristen (John) Rose, Mindy (Jegar) Johansen, Cole Boulette; his great nieces and nephews, Jake Hoppa, Olivia Hoppa, Samantha Cottrell, Jared Cottrell, Maya Corbin, Sophia Corbin, Chloe O’Connor, Bridget O’Connor, Margot O’Connor, Gilbert Johnson, Jasper Lawrence, Iara Lawrence, Camryn Johansen and Cohen Johansen.

A special appreciation to the Munson Cowell Family Cancer Center for their compassionate and loving care for the duration of Randy’s illness and to the University of Michigan Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

A celebration of Randy’s life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2020, at the Willowbrook Mill in Northport.

Memorials may be directed to Leelanau County Cancer Foundation, PO Box 266, Northport, MI 49670 and/or Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 38, 2423 Sybrant Road, Traverse City, MI 49684.

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