(Photo) (Veteran)

James Grant Hartman, 71

James Grant Hartman, 71, died Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs. Jim was born November 29, 1945 in Gordon, to Edward and Thelma (Gehrig) Hartman. The family moved to eastern Nebraska in 1952 and lived southeast of Herman on the Missouri River bottom. Within a few weeks of settling in, they had to evacuate and Thelma and the kids returned to Gordon and stayed with grandparents, Fred and Stella Gehrig, until it was safe to go back. The rural school had flooded so the kids continued their education in Herman. When Jim was a freshman, the family moved closer to Oakland and Jim transferred in his sophomore year and graduated in 1964.

In October 1965, Jim enlisted in the Army. He spent 8 weeks at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and 6 weeks at Ft Knox, Ky., before being sent to Germany. He was discharged in 1968.

When he arrived in the U.S., he contacted Robert (Sparky) Parker who lived in upstate New York and had been with Jim in Germany. They traveled around for a while visiting other friends and then Jim returned to Nebraska and worked as a mechanic in Omaha.

In the early 1970s, Jim went back to California where he met and married Lynda Clark. They moved to Gordon and Jim worked for Myron Gehrig and Jack Bailey. A son, Justin, was born in 1973. In 1974, they moved to Oregon and Jim worked in construction and logging. A daughter, Kiah, was born in Oregon.

In 1986, Jim returned to Nebraska and worked various jobs before moving to Minnesota in 1988. Jim continued his education and received a degree in mechanics, a profession he continued until he retired in 2007.

Jim returned to Gordon in 2015 and resided at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs until his death. Survivors include a sister, Jerri Malmberg, of Gordon, special friend, Anita Hartman, Bertha, Minn., Lynda Hartman, son Justin (Kimberly) Hartman, Van Alexsander and Addilyn Jo, all of Reno, Nev., daughter Kiah(Matthew) McGee, Sparks, Nev., nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Preceding Jim in death were his parents, brothers Dick Hartman and Roger Hartman, cousins Denny Gehrig and Gene Sheffer and a great nephew Lane Malmberg.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 25, 2017, 11 a.m., at Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, Gordon. Inurnment with military honors will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Gordon.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~