Eldon F Hartman

Eldon F. Hartman, age 80, Bradley, died in early Friday morning, September 30, 2011 in the Golden Living Center at Clark where he has resided since May. A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, October 6, 2011 from 4-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark. A public prayer service will be held at 7PM with Pastor Jim Biswell presiding. David & Carol Finstad will provide music. Burial will be private. He was born on January 14, 1931 at Charles City, IA, the son of Francis and Thelma (Wiltse) Hartman. Eldon was raised at Bradley attending country school and later he attended Bradley High School. He served his country honorably from 1949-1953 in the United States Navy. He served during the Korean War on the USS Comstock LSD #19, a Mine Sweeper. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Bull on December 24, 1953. Following his discharge in December of 1953, the couple lived at Pierre for a short time before moving to Salinas, CA. They later moved to Napa, CA where he owned and operated B & H Transport. In 1967, they moved back to Bradley where they made their home. Eldon operated the farm for Mavis Hartman and her family until Darrell Hartman took it over in 1972. The couple opened the Hartman grocery store in October of 1968 and Eldon also had a trucking permit and hauled cattle for several years. In April of 1972 they opened up Hartman's Lounge in the former Browns Garage and then also operated Hartman's Café. In 1979 Eldon bought a stack mover and hauled hay for area farmers for several years. They sold the businesses in 1991 and semi-retired, although Eldon continued hauling hay. After Dorothy's sudden death in 2009, Eldon has lived in the home in Bradley and during illnesses at the Golden Living Center at Clark. Some of his hobbies included hunting pheasants and deer and riding his bike, being known in the CCR, Clark County Riders, as "Turkey", a club in which he was a charter member. He also had served as the Chief of the Bradley Volunteer Fire Dept. and was a member of the Larry F. Hartman, American Legion Post #108 of Bradley and VFW Post #750 of Watertown. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, Dorothy, siblings, Marlis (Gene) Mack and Darwin Hartman and a nephew, Larry Hartman. Survivors include his children, Pamela Hartman and husband Don Knudsen of Bradley, James "Jamie" (Theresa) Hartman and Beth Engels all of Watertown, 11 grandchildren, Jolene, Jason, Jarrod, James, Haley, Christine, Andy, Sarah, Anna, Christy and Debbie, 4 great-grandchildren, Alley, Wyatt, Alan and Gage and a sister, Gloria (Duke) Carlson of Renner, SD. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Mavis (Hubert) Valberg of Watertown. For further information please go to www.furnessfuneralhome.com