Judge Jeffrey Arleigh Harkin

age 64, of Hammond, Indiana, passed away Friday, April 22, 2016.
Born on October 16, 1951, in Gary, Indiana, Jeffrey spent his childhood in Highland, Indiana, and graduated Highland High School in 1969. After earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1973, Jeffrey began a career in the trucking industry, which took him from Indiana to Wisconsin to Michigan to Texas to California. In 1988, he left trucking and joined his father, Joseph "Doug" Harkin, in the family's Hammond, Indiana, real estate company, Harkin Realty. Jeffrey soon expanded his real estate knowledge and expertise, gaining his appraiser's and broker's licenses, and further assisted his father in the management of the business. Jeffrey took over Harkin Realty from Doug in 1994.

Despite his success in real estate, Jeffrey's had always dreamed of a law career, so in 1992, at the age of 41, he enrolled in the John Marshall School of Law, in Chicago, Illinois, where he attended evening and weekend classes while running Harkin Realty full-time. Jeffrey graduated from John Marshall in 1995.

In 2001, after a few years in private practice, Jeffrey was appointed to the office of city judge for Hammond, Indiana, succeeding Judge Thomas Stefaniak. At the end of his appointment, Jeffrey ran a successful campaign and was elected to the post. Jeffrey worked closely with Mayor Duane Dedelow Jr. on a number of initiatives, including the Graffiti Removal Program, and continued to work with the current administration until the time of his death. Jeffrey was immensely proud of Hammond, Indiana, the city he loved, and was a mentor and friend to many in the community.

Jeffrey is survived by three sons: Justyn (Catherine) Harkin; Jeremy (Lynne) Harkin; and Jeffrey (Rachael) Harkin; four grandchildren: Ryan, Hazel, Cole, and Will; one brother, Kevin Harkin; one sister, Shannon (Wayne) Gawlik; five nieces and nephews: Sarah (Jerry) Levin, Maggie Bleau, Jacob Harkin, Michael Bleau, and Melissa Gawlik; several great nieces and nephews; many cousins; and close friends Joe Jeffers, Carol Green-Fraley, Dana Dedelow, Eric Kirschner, and Lou Sertich. Jeff was preceded in death by parents Joseph and Cecelia Harkin; sister Cassandra Bleau; and his beloved Kathleen Pucalik.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 4 pm at the Solan Pruzin Funeral Home, 14 Kennedy Avenue, Schererville, Indiana (corner of Main and Kennedy) with Father Richard Orlinski officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday from 2 to 8 pm at Solan Pruzin. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to either the Hammond Fraternal Order of Police - Lodge 51 or the Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance.