Richard "Dick" Laverne Hartman

Richard “Dick” Laverne Hartman, 83 of Grand Island, Nebraska died peacefully at home

Tuesday, October 27, 2020.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 2, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran in Grand

Island, Nebraska. The Rev. Mark Middendorf will officiate. Cremation will take place following

the service.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, November 1, 2020 at the Apfel

Funeral Home in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the family to be added to the

existing Hartman scholarship fund for 4-H and F.F.A. students.

Dick was born in Riverdale, Nebraska on August 28, 1937 to Oscar and Ruby (Knox)

Hartman. He was confirmed at Christ Lutheran in St. Paul on May 13, 1951. He graduated

from Pleasanton High School in 1956.

On January 27, 1957 he was united in marriage to Carol Lee Carman. They resided on a

farm outside of Shelton. They had two sons, Steve and Dave. Dick worked in a variety of roles

all involving the agriculture and feed business.

On March 17, 1966 in Columbus, Nebraska, Dick married Pat (Todd) Nickman. In

addition to Pat’s four children, Mike, Pam, Barb and Carolyn they had two sons, Dan and Tom.

The couple made their home in Hastings, and later bought and moved to their farm south of

Grand Island in 1973. He continued to be involved in agriculture as well as civic duties while

serving on the Northwest Public School Board from 1976-1989. He also served on the Hall County Board of Supervisors from 1991-2007.

In 2009 Dick and Pat moved to Scotia, Nebraska. He became a member of the Lion’s

Club and was active in the Zion Lutheran Church in Scotia. After Pat’s passing in 2017, Dick

returned to Grand Island. He was again elected to the Hall County Board of Supervisors in 2018 where he served until his death. He was best known for speaking his mind, his one-liners, nicknames he handed out freely and his passion for the rural community.

Survivors include his special friend, Joan Hermes, five sons, Mike (Denise) Nickman of

Pleasanton, Steve (Deb) Hartman of Grand Island, Dave (Teresa) Hartman of Omaha, Dan

Hartman of Houston, Texas, Tom (Carlotta) Hartman of Grand Island; three daughters, Pam

(Jim) Wetzel of Grand Island, Barb (Doug) Mendyk of Scotia, Carolyn (Paul) Trieschman of

Houston; his brothers, Gary (Kathie) Hartman of Mesquite, Nevada and Dan (Bev) Hartman of

Omaha; 17 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, Oscar and Ruby; a brother, Fred

and a sister, Faye Ann Dauel.