Reverend John Elmer Hartman passed away at 11:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at Miller’s Merry Manor Nursing Home in Culver.

Rev. John Hartman was born on Jan. 23, 1929, at home, to Elmer Y. and Alice R. (Hartzler) Hartman in Elkhart. He married his lifelong sweetheart, Fern M. Myers, in Elkhart, on Sept. 27, 1947, where they raised two children together.

John was a proud United States Army Korean War Veteran and followed his calling by touching many lives through Jesus Christ as he became an ordained minister in 1974. His first church was Zion Gospel Chapel, in Kewana, IN, while he was still in Seminary at Grace College in Winona Lake. He then spent several years at the Grace Brethren Church in Winona, Min., followed by the Grace Brethren Church in Lyndhurst, Ohio, and continued on to Grace Baptist Church in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. While living in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, John also served as chaplain for several hospitals.

After retiring, he enjoyed traveling with his wife for 20 years as he served as campground chaplain between Lazy Acres Campground in Zolfo Springs, Fla. during the winter months, and PJ’s Campground in Stockbridge, Mich. during the summer. John was also a member of the Plymouth VFW, Post 1162, where he served as chaplain for several years.

Preceding John in death are his parents: Elmer and Alice Hartman; a sister: Lucina Hartman McGrath. He is survived by his wife: Fern Hartman; two children: Pamela (Paul) Larson, Plymouth; and Larry ‘Al” (Nola Picket) Hartman, Elkhart; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four brothers: Peter (Marilyn) Hartman, Hesston, Ks.; Ralph (Carolyn) Hartman, Goshen; Dennis (Lenore) Hartman, Traverse City, Mich.; Leonard (Viola) Hartman, Edmonson, Texas; and two sisters: Eunice Byler, Belleville, Pa.; and Miriam Hartman, Hesston, Ks.

There will be a visitation celebrating John’s life at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 19, followed by a Memorial and Military Honors ceremony at 3 p.m. in the lower level of the Plymouth Missionary Church. There will be a carry in dinner following the service.

The Van Gilder Funeral Home wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the Hartman family.