Jeanette Hoar Hart
Jeanette Hoar Hart was truly a woman ahead of her time.
She was born in in Washington County on February 13, 1928 to parents Edith and Bert Hoar. Her father was a farmer, and her mother was a homemaker, community booster, and Salem Leader newspaper writer.
Jeanette was the youngest of three children; she had an older sister Helen Purkhiser and an older brother, Buster (Morris) Hoar, both of whom predeceased her.
Jeanette’s childhood was happy despite the trials of the Great Depression. She had to grow up as a tough farm girl, initially without modern amenities like plumbing and working electricity. When electric lights were finally installed at their home, Jeanette and brother, Buster, showed their impish nature by secretly turning them all on at once and getting in trouble for doing that.
At her childhood home, interesting people and relatives were coming and going all the time, which previewed her later life in the Lanning House. Young Jeanette had a wonderful time in her 4H club and learned many valuable homemaking skills there.
After graduating from Campbellsburg High School in 1946, she received a 4H scholarship to Purdue University, majoring in Home Economics and minoring in Physical Education. An attractive and spirited co-ed, she served as a “yell leader” for the Boilermakers and loved modern dance.
Attending a Purdue Foundation Sunday evening supper, she met her husband-to-be, dashing Dick Hart from Elkhart – Goshen, son of Glen and Daisy. Dick and Jeanette were married on June 10, 1951 in Salem. They lived in a house built by Glen and Dick at 313 Meisner Avenue, in Elkhart, just a few blocks away from Glen and Daisy.
Dick and Jeanette had two daughters, Barbara in 1952 and Elizabeth (Libby) in 1954.
In 1968, Dick got the opportunity of a lifetime to become an administrator at the American School in Manila, Philippines. So, the whole family went on an adventure for two years in the far away land, making friends wherever they went. Going and coming back, they went around the world touring, staying for a month with friends in Japan and even visiting Vietnam during the height of the conflict there.
When Dick’s assignment in the Philippines ended, the family returned to Elkhart in 1970. Besides homemaking, Jeanette taught vocational home economics in the area schools, served the Lord gladly as a Christian education superintendent at Central Christian, was active in many 4H projects and demonstrations, and with Dick, was in the vanguard of supporting civil rights efforts through Elkhart’s Human Relations Commission and Urban League. Dick also taught school, coached sports, counseled countless youths in trouble, and house-painted during the summers with his Dad, Glen.
Under Dick and Jeanette’s care, both daughters grew up to follow the family tradition by going to Purdue, getting education degrees, teaching, and raising families of their own, eventually giving Jeanette four grandchildren, and eventually seven great-grandchildren.
In the mid 1970’s, Jeanette faced the biggest crisis in her life as she and the Hart family were devastated to learn that her husband, Dick, only in his 40s had leukemia. After about four years of a brave struggle, he finally succumbed to this disease in May, 1976.
Many people would have been tempted to despair and give up at this tragic loss, but not Jeanette. She was a survivor. She picked herself up and made her own life for herself. First, she returned to Salem to take care of her aging mother, Edith, in her last years. Then, in the late 1980s, after Edith passed, Jeanette adventurously traveled back to Japan to tutor English there, staying with friend, Mitsuo’s family, whom the Harts had met at Goshen College and hosted earlier in Elkhart. As Barb has recalled, Jeanette mentioned many times how important contacts made in international faith communities were so important to her adjusting to life in new countries like the Philippines and Japan.
Upon returning to Salem after her Japan teaching stint, Jeanette had perhaps her greatest accomplishment and contribution as proprietress for over 25 years of the successful Lanning House Bed and Breakfast, which combined a post-Civil War 1873 home built by Dr. Lanning with the later addition of the 1920 Annex.
Over the years, the Lanning House served hundreds of travelers including genealogical researchers, history lovers, and antique buffs. The House became a popular center for reunions, weddings, anniversaries, Spinners and Weavers meetings, and cherished annual festivals like Old Settlers Days. Jeanette gifted the Lanning House historical residence to the John Hay Center Foundation.
Additionally, Jeanette generously gave of her time and resources to First Christian Church where she was a Sunday School leader right up until the time her health began to fail. In recognition of her many contributions to the Salem community, Jeanette was recognized as the Salem Citizen of the Year and a Grand Marshall of the Salem Parade.
Jeanette passed away in her sleep early Christmas morning in 2021.
After Jeanette’s death, her daughter, Barbara, established the Jeanette Hoar Hart FFA Fund, which will support the West Washington FFA. This fund honors several of Jeanette’s passions: education, Agriculture, and her Campbellsburg community.
The picture was taken in 2019 at Jeanette’s Birthday celebration with her two grand twins, Ava and Rhys. Jeanette loved pumpkin pie and preferred it over birthday cake.
