George Joseph "Joe" Hardesty, 64, of Unionville, MO, formerly of Keokuk, IA died Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Harry Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, MO. He was born on December 27, 1946 the son of Lyman and Cleo Calfee Hardesty. On June 2, 2009 he was united in marriage to Cindy Sizemore in Milan, MO. She survives. Other survivors include five children from a previous marriage, Robin, Bambi, Rob and his fiancé Michelle, Maria and William, one step-daughter, Cecilia Bartlett and her fiancé Frank Leslie of Green City, MO, one step-grandson, Mason Lee Bartlett of Green City, MO, two sisters, Christine Hartley and her husband Bill of Keokuk, IA and Ruth Fox and her husband Bill of Kahoka, MO, five brothers, Earl Kite and his wife Michelle of Warsaw, IL, Ernest Hammel and his wife June of Liberty, IA, James Hammel and his wife Deb of Wellman, IA, Danny Hammel of Keokuk, IA and Paul Hammel and his wife Tina of Palmyra, MO, his father in-law and mother-in-law, George and Shirley Sizemore of Green City, MO, brother and sister-in laws, Becky and Mike Snyder of Kirksville, MO, Debbie and Martin Neely of Green City, MO, Jack and Glendetta Sizemore of Green Castle, MO and Julila and John Sayre of Green Castle, MO, many aunt and uncles, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyman and Cleo Hardesty and Ernest and Betty Hammel, his sister, Thelma Jean Bevel, and two sisters in infancy, Ruth Elaine Hammel and Jane Hammel, one brother, Charles McKinna and one son, Eric. George was a veteran of the United States Marines and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. He had been employed as an auctioneer in Keokuk, IA and then worked at Con-Agra in Milan, MO. Most recently he was the head of maintenance at the Lake Thunderhead Resort in Unionville, MO. George's had a passion and talent for restoring cars. He was a mentor to many young people as he helped them with auto body work and mechanics. He loved to fish. He enjoyed life and spending time with his family and friends. A Memorial Gathering of Remembrance was held on Thursday, May 5, 2011 in the basement of the Lake Thunderhead Resort office in Unionville, MO. A graveside service with military rites was held at 1 p.m. Friday May 6, 2011 at the Keokuk National Cemetery in Keokuk, IA.