Birth date: Feb 20, 1948 Death date: Jun 26, 2025
Gary Glen Hartman, of Decatur, IL, passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the age of 77. He was born on February 20, 1948, to Glen Hartman and Patricia (Creek) Roberts of Decatur, who preceded him in death. Gary was the eldes Read Obituary
I played basketball against Gary in high school and we hung out together after high school. He was a fun guy who I enjoyed knowing, but we parted when the U.S. Army gave us a call and we just never found our way back to each other. Life experiences change us all, but we shared some great memories when we were running around together. I didn't know Rod Hartman had already passed. MY heart felt condolences to all the family and friends. This makes me sad.
Bruce Kaylor
I am another of the Southeast/EHS sand lot group. If you read the tributes from Larry and Gary Hill, you will see we were a close group from a neighborhood school who liked to be outside and active. Active usually meant sports of all kinds in all seasons. I will always remember Gary as a gifted,natural athlete.Gary and I were friends through high school, and I, too, would reconnect with Gary at class reunions. After I moved back to Decatur, we would bump into each other from time to time, often reminiscing about "back when." Losing someone you have known for so long is especially sad. If the Class.of '66 has any future reunions, I will miss Gary's wide grin. Jack Hershfelt
Gary's mother was in the hospital with my mom, when my mom had this my brother. They became friends. Gary was always kind and my husband Paul Bork also remembers him fondly. So sorry he died so young.
I also went to Eisenhower with him.
Marla Kay Ekiss Ray.
Spent thousands of hours growing up playing sports year-round with Gary and neighboring boys...mostly baseball on numerous sandlots and Little & Pony leagues, plenty of basketball outdoors at Southeast Elementary, and also touch football in our large front yard and at the vacant lot adjacent to the Eisner/Jewel Grocery parking lot a 1/2 block away. We lived about a block from the Hartman family. Then we went on to be close basketball teammates at Eisenhower HS all four years, and together on the starting 5 in our senior year.
Gary was an outstanding athlete, with baseball as his most accomplished sport (he was a star), but very competitive in whatever sport or activity he engaged in. Gary always gave 110% and was a hustler in all sports. One of the funny things I remember about Gary was his penchant for creating nicknames for the kids in our group, generally lewd but given in good spirits.
We had a wonderful youth experience together, warm memories and unforgettable times. Enjoyed so much re-connecting with Gary at the various EHS reunions through the decades.
RIP, Gary, and my condolences to your family and loved ones.
Larry Hill (St. Louis)
worked with gary at cash valve. good man. well respected. loved by all!!
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of long-time friend Gary Hartman. I became a close friend soon after meeting him in 2nd grade on the playground at Southeast grade school. We lived one block away from each other and next to the EHS parking lot, and played sports together (basketball, baseball and tackle/touch football) at least 200 days a year through our high school graduation in 1966. Looking forward to seeing him and re-living old times/good times at our numerous EHS class reunions, I missed his presence at our most recent one a couple of years ago. What a GREAT ATHLETE and nice guy and good friend he was!
Gary Hill
