Johnnie Theadore HardemanJanuary 22, 1928 - November 11, 2016Johnnie T. Hardeman, 88, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2016 from health complications while at his home in Paso Robles with his wife, Elizabeth "Betty Jo" Josephine (Veatch) Hardeman, of 69 years nearby. Johnnie was born on January 22 1928 in Riverside to father John Howell Hardeman. He attended high school at Riverside Polytechnic where he met Betty Jo. The two married June 14, 1947 and moved into their home on Main Street soon after. As a career bricklayer, Johnnie had a hand in building infrastructure throughout Southern California and especially in his hometown of Riverside. He helped lay the brickwork throughout downtown Riverside, including City Hall and the police station, plus the walkways and fountains around the Mission Inn and Main Street. He also worked on the construction of the Apollo Antenna at the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in the Mojave Desert. After retiring, he kept himself busy by raising peacocks and chickens and growing his own vegetables at his Main Street home of 68 years. Johnnie was also very involved in the Riverside Little League for 20 years at Patterson and Reid parks where Hardeman Field was named after him. Johnnie enjoyed playing baseball when he was younger and watching it when he was older along with other sports, often rooting for Southern California teams. Watching Westerns was also one of his favorite pastimes. He lived in Riverside, a city he fiercely loved, for the majority of his life, moving to Paso Robles in 2015. Johnnie was preceded in death by his father, John; his son-in-law, Richard "Dick" Bruenecke; and grandson, Christian Bruenecke. Johnnie is survived by his wife, Betty; his three children: Barbara "Jeanne" Bruenecke of Paso Robles, Johnnie Max Hardeman and his wife Rose (Enriquez) of Sonoma, and Joyce Batcha and her husband Thomas "Deacon" of Apple Valley; his three grandchildren: James Hardeman of Sonoma, Joseph Hardeman and his wife Katie (Welch) of Sonoma, and Sarah Batcha of Redlands; and two great grandchildren: Tayli Jade Bruenecke of Camarillo and Henry Max Hardeman of Sonoma. A graveside service will be held for Johnnie at 2 p.m. Monday, November 21 at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park, 11500 Arlington Ave., Riverside. Family, friends and all who knew Johnnie are welcome to attend and celebrate his life.
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