Donald E. Hartman

Donald E. Hartman, 82 of Kankakee, died Saturday, September 3, 2011 at his home after a three year battle with pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz funeral chapel on West Court Street in Kankakee and for one hour before the funeral service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Merchant Street on Thursday, September 8 at 10 a.m. The Reverend Karl Koeppen will officiate. Burial will be at Mound Grove Cemetery. Mr. Hartman was born in Goodenow, IL on May 1, 1929 to Edwin and Rose Dierking Hartman. At a young age his family moved to Beecher, IL where he was raised and attended school. He was proud to serve in the United States Navy from 1948-1951. On April 19, 1952 he married the love of his life June Arline Watson of Pensacola, Florida. They celebrated 40 years of marriage before she died on February 21, 1993. Surviving are his children, daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Mark Sutter of Bonfield; sons Kevin (Chops) Hartman and fiancée Alice Donnersberger of St. Anne and Kerry and Shelley Hartman of Bradley; grandchildren, Beth Sutter and Dan Walters, Josh and Amanda Snyder Sutter, Courtney and Drew Hartman, Kyle, Kayla and Kohl Hartman, Kelsie and Cory Donnersberger; Taylor Serrata; great-grandchild, Ashton Mayers; two sisters Georgene Johnstone of Crete and Joan (Joe) Kraus of Steger; special friend and companion, Bea Leathers and life long friend and coffee buddy Bill Barnett. Deceased are his parents and his first grandchild, Chad Edward Sutter. On November 5, 1994 he married his loving second wife, Dolores (Doe) McCarty. They were married for 13 years until she died on August 15, 2007. He was a friend to her children; Denise (Doug) Brown; Rick (Kathy) McCarty; and all her grandchildren. He had a special bond with her daughter, Denita McCarty and granddaughter Kate Brown. Mr. Hartman was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Kankakee for 52 years. He retired in 1990 from Northern IL Gas Company where he worked for 38 years. In the late 1950’s and early 60’s he owned and raced Midget, Sprint and stock cars. Sprint cars were his favorite and he traveled throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan to race them. When he retired from racing he became the flagman at Sugar Island Speedway and at the Kankakee County Fairgrounds for seven years. Later he became the track photographer for the local race track as well as for Midwest Racing News and other USAC publications. For many years he was also a well known local wedding photographer. He coached the Bradley-Bourbonnais Sportsman Club Little League team for 10 years. Mr. Hartman loved to fly and loved all kinds of airplanes especially the WWII planes. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting, fishing, gardening and mowing grass for anyone who needed it. He was a White Sox, Cubs and NASCAR fan but his favorite sports where any that involved his children or grandchildren. He loved to travel, visit with friends and make his famous peanut brittle during the holidays. He was a huge history buff and had a love for the arts, especially live theatre. He was a kind and caring person who loved his faith, family and friends. He will be missed by many and loved by all. Memorials may be made to Kankakee Valley Theatre Association; St. Paul’s Lutheran School or Hospice of Kankakee Valley. Please sign his guestbook at clancygernon.com. Pallbearers are Josh Sutter, Drew Hartman, Kyle Hartman, Kohl Hartman, Cory Donnersberger, Brian Osterhoff and Mike Lebert. Memorials to Kankakee Valley Theatre Association - www.kvta.org/; St. Paul's Lutheran School - www.stpaulslutheran.net/ Hospice of Kankakee Valley - www.hkvcares.org/

Donald E. Hartman

May 1, 1929 - September 3, 2011