Harold Lee Tabert , 85, passed away peacefully, at his home in rural Oxford, IN, on the evening of October 4, 2023; surrounded by his wife, Sandy & children. He had been battling Prostate Cancer & Parkinson's for several years. Harold was born September 4, 1938, in a farmhouse, in rural Boswell, Indiana. He is the second child of the late Gustave Heinrich "Hank" & Willa Mae (Graves) Tabert. Harold grew up in Pine Township, in Benton County, IN, with many adventures & memories on the farm; with his family and friends. He was always interested in planes, inventing things & also helping his dad with farming & chores.

He went all 12 years at Pine Township School, in Benton County, IN, graduated in 1958, with 9 classmates. His classmates said they would bring stuff to school for Harold to fix. With such small classes you pretty much had to participate in every activity. Harold played the cornet in band, played basketball & baseball, ran track, was class vice president, sang in the choir & participated in shop & 4/H. For their senior trip Harold, Ed Steiner, Tommy Durflinger & Kenny Weisenberger went on a car trip to Florida. Funny story: Ed had eaten something that disagreed with him & they ALL had a 'stinking' good time! It is fun to hear all the shenanigans that went on! In the senior yearbook a poem was written - "Harold was very nice & quiet, would someday like to be a pilot. He works & studies very hard, on the basketball floor he is a guard." Also, being such a small community, he fostered lifelong friends, who continue attending the annual Pine Alumni. After high school graduation, in 1959, Harold, joined the United States Air Force & proudly served honorably from 1959-1963. After basic training he was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, NM. He was a crew chief on the C47 'gooney bird' aircraft. He made lifelong friends during his time in the Air Force serving his country.

In 1961, Harold met the love of his life, Sandra "Sandy" L. Madson/Smith, while cruising the drive-thru with his friend Dave Topolski. They married in 1962, at a Justice of the Peace, with their best friends Jackie Cauch & Dave Topolski as witnesses. Their first child, Pam, was born at the base hospital. At the end of 1963 they packed up & moved to Benton County, IN. Harold helped his dad farm, and then went to Volkswagen mechanic school, worked at downtown Lafayette Volkswagen. He also worked many other jobs to support his growing family. In 1968, he bought Coats Garage in Templeton, IN, from Ezra Coats, renaming the business Tabert's Machine Shop. He did welding, fabrication, inventions, mobile farm repairs (in the Green Machine) & continued to fix VWs, along with many other projects. He owned & operated Tabert's Machine Shop until 2013 (45 years). He then sold it to Kyle Keffer; who had worked & apprenticed with Harold for several years.

He was an active member of the Oxford United Methodist Church, for 57 years, where he was involved in the church choir & many church committees. He was also a long-time active member of Oxford Lions Club, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Lafayette Glider Club & Oak Grove Township board. Harold was also active with Habitat for Humanity, building & repairing houses, locally, in other states & even Haiti, rebuilding after storm damage, on mission trips, called Kairos Carpenters. He went on the Honors Flight to Washington, DC with his brother, Ray.

Harold LOVED spending time with his wife, 5 children, 15 grandchildren & 3 great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed down-hill skiing, water skiing, building & flying model airplanes, old Western TV/movies, flying his plane & glider, music, fishing, traveling, attending the Feast of the Hunters Moon & even dressing for the Feast with his daughter, Pam, & spending time with friends. Having adventures & making memories were so important to him.

Harold was a kindhearted, laid back, gentle man. You could find him working in his shop on many projects; many said he could fix anything. He was confident, in his work & could fabricate/fix anything. Harold loved classical music & would listen to it, while he worked at the shop; he told us he wanted to bring culture to the farmers. While Sandy was pregnant with Pam (#1), Harold built a sailboat "Sun fish". When they were expecting Kathy (#3), he built a single person airplane from scratch with a VW engine. He donated this plane to the Imagination Station (children's museum), in Lafayette, IN, for children to explore & pretend in. Even later, he built a single person glider with a pusher engine on top. He also designed & built an underground home for his family which they moved into in 1983 & they still live in it. What an amazing man!

Harold is survived by his Wife, of 61+ years, Sandy, 4 Children; Pam Tabert Barnard, Barb Tabert Netherland,  both of Oxford, IN, Jeanie Tabert (Mike) Gillock, of Rockwall, TX & Brian (Kristen) Tabert, of Oxford, MI, 15 Grandchildren: Dylan (Kelly) Barnard, Drent Barnard, Rachel Netherland (Ben) Mills, Madison, McKenzie & Aiden Hargest, Cody, Jackson & Samantha Gillock & Caleb, Isaac, Eli, Seth, Levi & Isaiah Tabert 3 Great-Grandchildren: Lena, Isabel & Ellie Mills, 3 Siblings: Katrina "Tina" Tabert Carter, of Central City, KY, Wendel "Ray" (Diana) Tabert, of Oxford, IN & Sharon "Sheri" Tabert (Paul) McLean, of Fowler, IN & many nieces, nephews, cousins & friends. Harold was preceded in death by his Daughter, Kathleen "Kathy" Tabert Hargest, Sister-in-Law, Charlotte Madson/Smith Piggott, Brother-in-Law, Robert "Bob" Carter, Nephew, Brad Carter & Niece, Tracy Funk Garcia.

He really wanted to go to Florida to the beach & also have a nice sirloin steak. Well, the week before he passed, Harold, Sandy, Pam & Barb went to Fort Meyers, FL, for a week. He sat at the beach & got his toes in the sand & water & even went on an airboat ride (which he loved). We can't forget he had that nice steak dinner & he loved every single bite. All 4 of us had an amazing time together while making memories that will last forever.

Special thanks: to all the Doctors, Nurses & Staff, at the VA & all the amazing civilian doctors & staff. Elara Caring Hospice for the compassionate care given to Harold since December 2022. Thanks to our amazing family & friends who came to assist Harold & Sandy. We love our Dad, Husband, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle & Friend that we had in Harold Tabert. We know the Lord has welcomed him saying "Well done My Good & Faithful Servant." We will miss him but we know we will see him again.

Harold generously donated his body to the Anatomical Education Program, at Indiana University School of Medicine. This gift will contribute significantly to the advancement of health science education, in the state of Indiana. Those, like Harold, who decide to bequeath their bodies to the health sciences, have made a significant contribution that benefits the quality of life & care for the living.

A Celebration of Harold's Life will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 1 pm until time of service at 3 pm which will be led by Harold's longtime friend, Roger Seehafer, at the Oxford United Methodist Church, 215 S Howard St., Oxford, IN. We will be sharing stories, singing & music a true celebration of a wonderful life of this GREAT man. Of course, Harold would want everyone to be comfortable, so casual dress is a must! Everyone is also invited to join the family for Harold's favorite food - PIE after the service in the church basement. In lieu of flowers & plants please consider donating to the family for a memorial for Harold.  A monument will be placed at Danville National Cemetery, Danville, IL. Shoemaker Funeral Home, Otterbein, is assisting Harold's Family. Visit Shoemaker Funeral Home- Otterbein, Indiana Facebook page or www.shoemakerfh.com to leave any condolences or to share a photo or memory of Harold.