Richard Lee Hartman

Richard Lee Hartman of DeKalb entered into eternal rest at age 95, "and a half" on February 21, 2023. He died peacefully at home with family by his side.

Richard was born in Goodfield, Illinois, the 7th of 8 children of Elizabeth Bucher Hartman and John Hartman.  He spent his youth in this rural area, enjoying hunting and fishing with his brothers, and mastering childhood games like marbles and mumbly peg, both of which he would later teach to all of his many children.

In 1950, in the small town of Deer Creek IL, he met a beautiful redhead, nicknamed "Legs". Allegra Marie Hessling and Richard were married on March 2nd or 3rd in 1951. The actual date could neither be confirmed nor denied, as they could never agree on it. Mom always said it was one day, and dad would say it was the other, despite the article in the paper that stated it was a Saturday the 3rd.  Mom contested that it was printed wrong, and for 69 years of marriage, that was their story, and they stuck to it.

Richard served in the US Army as an aircraft mechanic from December 1950 until December 1952. During this time he was stationed in Uijeongbu, Korea. This is also where he developed his particular love for cooked peas, carrots and everything creamed. Thanks to a supportive mother who knew him well, he apparently survived by regular shipments of black pepper to add to his rations, for which he was grateful. This relationship with black pepper stayed with Richard for the rest of his life, and is clearly evident in any Hartman family event, where fighting to get the pepper grinder is a given.

Richard and Allegra moved from Deer Creek to Fort Sill Oklahoma, where their first child, Rebecca Lynn was born.  After his release from the army, they moved to Chicago, Illinois where he attended DeVry School of Technology. Upon graduation from Devry, they returned to Deer Creek, and Richard obtained employment with Montgomery Wards, in Bloomington, IL as an appliance service repair technician. He later accepted a promotion as manager of the service department. In the fall of 1967, Richard and Allegra relocated their family of 8 to DeKalb, Illinois. Richard was employed with Montgomery Wards until the store closed in 2001. At that time he went into business for himself, as Hartman's Refrigeration and Appliance Service.

Richard and Allegra enjoyed traveling to Texas, Louisiana, New York, Canada, Arizona, and many other states. They loved camping, and spent many long weekends with friends and family. Large, ginormous bonfires and fireworks were a must.

Richard loved making wine, trying to "make beer", morel mushroom hunting, bowling, playing pool, and he was a master at cooking on the grill, a skill that he passed down to his children. Most of all, he loved to fix things. He spent his life working on, and tinkering with everything imaginable. When something wore out or broke, you didn't have to replace it, you took it to him and asked "Can you fix it"?. If it didn't work, he could fix it. Thus was born his eternal motto and license plate "CAN DO 8".

We will miss his strong will, his sense of humor, and his "CAN DO" attitude.

Richard was a quiet man, but he had a very strong faith with a deep love for his Savior, that was passed on to him by his dear mother.  He remained a lifelong member of the Apostolic Christian Church, where he made his public pronouncement of faith in his adult baptism.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Patricia Hiland (Gary), sons, Steven, Thomas (Cathy), Roger (Carol Tallent), and Douglas. His grandchildren Jeremy Grubbs (Lori), Regina Thomas (Adam), Richard Hartman, Beatrice Hartman, Justin Hartman, Jason Hartman and Derek Hartman,  great grandchildren Jared and Conor Grubbs, and Madelynn and Owen Thomas, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Allegra, his daughter Rebecca, his son, Kenneth (Annie Kordesh), and grandchild Jarrod Grubbs, along with his 3 brothers Ronald (Sam), Howard (Hop), Harold (Bud), and 3 sisters, Shirley, Loretta (Tootse), and Violet.

Richard's family wishes to give particular thanks to Heather Hartman, from Transitions, but in particular to Shelly Solarz. Shelly was our guiding light and rock of stability when she would come to help with Dad. She gave him months of comfort, peace, joy, and lots of laughter. She brought sunshine to his life, and we will always be grateful and thankful she came into our lives and his.

Funeral service will be Saturday March 4, at Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak Street, DeKalb, (815) 758-3841.There will be a one-hour visitation at the funeral home from 10-11 a.m., followed by a short service with Pastor Dietz from the Elgin Apostolic Christian Church. Burial will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in DeKalb with military honors provided by the DeKalb American Legion Post #66 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Richard Hartman memorial fund in care of Finch Funeral Home.