Upon entering the Hardings' home, John greeted me at the front walk, extending his hand and helping me through the door. Inside, Karen stood, radiant with her signature sparkling eyes and glistening white hair, it had been over 40 years since I last visited their home, but it felt good to be back.

John and Karen Harding moved to Lake Quivira (https://www.lakequivira.org) on August 1, 1971, leaving their Brookside home after a fateful visit to their TWA friends, the Bear and Sandy Beck. As they drove across the dam, John declared, “We are moving here,” two weeks later, they purchased their home on Terrace Trail West, where they have happily lived ever since.

At the time, John was already a pilot for TWA (https://www.twamuseum.com), while Karen stayed home to care for their young sons, JT and Doug. While living in Brookside, the boys walked to school and spent their early years swimming and attending preschool at the Jewish Community Center (https://www.thejkc.org). Meanwhile, Karen pursued her passion for art, taking classes at the Kansas City Art Institute (https://kcai.edu), where she learned from some of the best teachers. Her artistic talents ranged from portrait painting to calligraphy and eventually murals, including works for Black-eyed Pea restaurants. Karen’s art is displayed in several states as well as Ecuador and Mexico. Karen says, “I like to draw, but I wish I was better at colors.”

John and Karen both grew up in Omaha and met at a friend’s house when they were 19 years old. Karen was part of an etiquette class hosted by John’s friend Judy. John noted Karen and asked her out for a date, but she wasn’t immediately impressed by John. Determined, he called her four times before she agreed to a date. After two years of courtship, they married on June 2, 1962.

John’s family has a rich history at Lake Okoboji in Iowa, where his grandfather purchased the property in 1924. John and his brother spent their summers there, building fond memories. As John shared, “For 19 years, I got to do that!” These early adventures set the stage for a life filled with travel and exploration. The Hardings traveled extensively for John’s TWA layovers in Europe with Karen. There were also great times in South America for Karen with her neighbor and close friend, Ellie Cloutman. They were on a quest to speak Spanish fluently. Karen fondly recalls their pact to speak only Spanish during their travels, even if Ellie teased her for speaking in verbs.

The Hardings were neighbors and close friends with John and Ellie Cloutman. One year, when the Cloutmans were in Bozeman, Montana, they called each other, sharing how they wished they could be together during the holidays. John and Karen jumped on a plane the next day and surprised them at their front door in Bozeman on Christmas Day!

As a family, the Hardings embarked on many sailing trips with their close Lake Quivira friends and their children, like Chip and Becky Newcomer, to destinations like the British Virgin Islands and Antigua. Their sailing adventures, often aboard two-masted boats and even a 55-foot sloop, remain cherished memories.

The Hardings have been deeply involved in the Lake Quivira community. John served as a Cubmaster and Scoutmaster, leading the boys on camping trips to Canada and the Boundary Waters. Karen was even on a couple of camping trips. John told the troop he would take them but had a prerequisite to bring Karen. The boys voted enthusiastically to have her come along! He fondly shared that those were some of the best years of their life, being with the boys and scouting. Karen’s Quivira contributions included serving on the Board of Directors, acting as Commodore of the Sailing Club, and swimming the length of the lake—even if she came in last, she always finished!

John had always been a swimmer in college and continued swimming at the lake with his two yellow labs, Bailey and Sober. He remembers he and the dogs swimming from their third Cove dock to Townsend Point. There, he would rest while the dogs waited for him in the water. When John had caught his breath, he’d call out, “Let’s go!” and the happy threesome swam back to the dock.

Now retired, John says they stay pretty close to home and just enjoy all that Lake Quivira has to offer. John still plays a little golf with his most loved group of friends, the Sandbaggers, while Karen recalls her days as a mixed doubles tennis player, admitting she may not have had the best form but always played to win. Their boys bought them a pontoon boat for retirement, which they thought was pretty swell!

These days, their home is their sanctuary, filled with over 200 paintings, many created by Karen, and warm memories of raising their family. John continues looking after finances and trying to stay ahead of his computer. Karen is the chef, with her specialties being salads and vegetables, even though John is quite happy with a nice meatloaf. They compromise with Karen’s absolute favorite food, potatoes!

They enjoy visiting their sons, JT and Doug, in Houston and Chicago, respectively. Often, the boys will come back to the lake for the annual Gobble Wobble, a tradition John says he enjoys. The boys have helped drive them to and from the big cities to visit, too. John says they are probably just trying to keep us alive!

Their current companion and major part of their lives is Chaucer, a nearly 17-year-old West Highland Terrier. John takes Chaucer on golf cart rides to East Park, where they play together, a cherished daily ritual.

After 62 years together, the love story of John and Karen is attributed to their enduring bond of trust, frequent expressions of love, and shared joy. They fondly remember dancing the jitterbug and promise to keep dancing at home. Karen says they are “comfortable together” and constantly remind each other, “I love you.” Their motto for life together and with others is “Just be grateful. Be kind.”

As I left their home, Karen had me sign the guestbook, a tradition I was honored to take part in. John helped me with my coat, and once again, I felt in awe of the richness of life that so many Lake Quivira families have been fortunate to experience.