Chester G. “Chet” Hartman

Chester (Chet) G. Hartman, 89, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Newton Medical Center. Chet was born August 3, 1930 to Carmen and Cora (Rogers) Hartman.

Chet served his country in the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955.

After leaving the service he began farming for Dick Washburn. His next job was working at Guerdons Mobile Home Manufacturing, where he became a Foreman and President of their Union. He left the company to start a business with his brother Clyde, who invented the fiberglass spreader bodies. The business was called Glasshopper, Inc. When he moved to Halstead, Kansas he worked at the Halstead Hospital in maintenance from 1979 to 1994. During his time at the hospital, he also served as the Assistant Fire Chief on the Halstead volunteer Fire Department from 1979 to 1996. After retiring from the Halstead Hospital, he worked as a security officer for the Hospital. Later he purchased a building located on Main Street in Halstead, Kansas and established an auction house that he operated for 7 1/2 years from 1998 to 2005.

During his spare time, he loved to fish and hunt and was also an avid coyote hunter. His biggest interest was driving in the Demolition Derbies at the Hutchinson State Fair, McPherson, Marion and the Harvey County Fair. He started driving in 1964 and at 50 years old, he began using his age as his number on each car. He had been in a total of 134 races. His final race was at the Harvey County Fair Demolition Derby in 2015 when he was 85. He won first place in his class. However, he still had plans to drive one more time on his 90th birthday in 2020.

On October 15, 1950, Chet married Evelyn Ediger, his wife of 69 1/2 years, in Newton, Kansas at the Evangelical United Brethern church and she survives.

Chet is survived by his wife Evelyn; children: Sharon (Lontie) Jantz of Moundridge, Debbie (Mike) Miles of North Newton; grand-children: Neil (Ashley) Jantz of Mulvane, Brad (Kali) Jantz of Moundridge and 4 great-grandchildren: Haylee, Trey, Aubree and Chase. Chet was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Marjorie Miles; brother, Clyde Hartman; brother, Melvin and great-granddaughter, Abigail Jantz.

Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday (January 30, 2020) at First Baptist Church, 6th and Poplar, Newton, Kansas with Pastor Chip Bungard officiating. Military Honors will be presented at the church.

There will be a private inurnment at a later date in the Halstead Cemetery.

Chet was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene and on Easter Sunday morning in 1966, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. Two weeks later on April 24^th he was baptized  upon confession of his faith. 

Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the First Church of the Nazarene in care of Petersen Funeral Home.