James Edwin “Sonny” Hartman, 87, well known area farmer of Monticello, passed away at 4:40 p.m., Monday, Feb 22, 2016 at Kirby Medical Center in Monticello. James was born April 14, 1928 in Douglas County, the son of Frank Joseph and Bertha Kleiss Hartman. James graduated from Tuscola High School in 1947. An Okaw Valley all-conference tackle, he was offered a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, but remained helping out on the family farm per his father’s wishes. He served as a sergeant first class in the United States Army, fighting in the Korean Conflict in 1952/53, where he was awarded the Purple Heart.
Returning from the war, he met & soon married Norma Jeane Hall at Forty Martyrs Catholic Church in Tuscola on November 27, 1954. They raised two sons, Jay & Van, and farmed and raised livestock southwest of Monticello until he retired at age 85. James was a lifetime member of St. Michaels Catholic Church in Bement. He served for many years on the board of Monticello Grain including several years as president. He was also a director/chairman of the Federal Land Bank & Federal Land Credit Association from 1967 to 1994, and served two years as a director of the Piatt County Soil & Water Conservation District. A lifetime die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, he took his family to many games every year, and was fortunate to see Ken Holtzman’s no-hitter in 1969. James was also a huge Fighting Illini fan and could be found many a morning at Hardee’s drinking coffee and swapping jokes with his friends, “The Old Geezers.”
James is survived by his wife of 61 years Norma of Monticello, sons Jay (Renee’) of Decatur, Van (Carol) of Savoy; two sisters: Catherine McCumber, and Barbara Cannon of Urbana; one grandchild: Allie Hartman of Savoy; and many nieces, nephews & cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Mary Catherine Hartman, Virginia Bailey & Dorothy Parker; brother: Charles Hartman, and nephew: Wesley Redden.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the St. Philomena’s Catholic Church, 1301 N. Market St. Monticello, Illinois with Father Bruce Lopez officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday February 26, 2016 at the Mackey Wright Funeral Home, 215 E. Washington St. Monticello, and one hour prior to the mass, Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held with full military rites at the Bement Cemetery, Bement, IL. Memorials can be made to the American Heart Association and St. Michaels Church in Bement.
