Robert Paul Harbrecht

Robert Paul Harbrecht passed away Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. He was an engineer and educator, lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, and all around Renaissance man. Bob was born to Jerry Harbrecht and Jessie Ness Betteridge Harbrecht on March 17, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. He spent his early life first in Los Angeles and then in Murray, Utah where he attended school and grew in his love for reading and learning. As a young man, he served a mission in the Central United States Mission, received his BES and MS degrees from the School of Engineering at BYU, and met and married his sweetheart, Sherrie Fagg in the Salt Temple on June 1, 1965. During the early years of his working life as an electrical engineer, Bob and Sherrie had five daughters and so Bob’s life was kept busy working, raising a family, serving in various church callings, and fitting in time for the wide variety of hobbies he explored.

He returned to school and earned an MEA degree and then an MEd degree and Utah Teaching Certificate from the University of Utah and left engineering to begin his teaching career first at Churchill Jr. High and then Hunter High School in the Granite School District. For the next 15 years Bob shared his love of the earth sciences, astronomy, and computers with the many students who came through his classroom. Upon retirement Bob immersed himself more fully in family history and genealogy, serving another mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Sherrie, in the London England Family History Center and as a family history consultant in the local Family History Center in Midvale, Utah. He also used his time in retirement to travel, spend time with family, pursue his many and varied hobbies and interests, and be a faithful minister in his ward. He got his ham radio license and spent many hours on the midday check-ins of the Beehive Net.

He is survived by his sweetheart wife of 60 years, Sherrie Harbrecht, his daughters Anna Kennington (Justin), Alisa Hicken (Allen), Heather Maynard (Tom), and Hillary Weitzel (David). His grandchildren Owen, Evan, Bronwyn, Liam, Camille, Bethany, Nathan, Laura, Emma, Rachel, Sarah Jane, Josh, Liz, Molly, and Katie and 8 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Jerry Harbrecht, his brother DeWayne, his daughter Lori Anne, and great grandson Charlie.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 22, 2026 at 11am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2301 East Bengal Blvd. 7600 South, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121. Visitation will be held at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd, Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm, and the day of the service one hour prior at the place of service. Interment Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, Millcreek Utah.