Donald Franklin Hartge, age 85, of Shelby, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the Crestline Rehabilitation and Nursing Center following surgery for a broken jaw. Donald was born in Cumberland, Maryland on September 10, 1939 to the late, John and Isabel (Champion) Hartge. He was a graduate of Shelby high school, class of 1958. He served in the United States Army and spent one year in Korea. After returning home, he worked for the Ohio Steel Tube (Tuby) in Shelby and retired from RR Donnelly and Sons in Willard. Don and his wife, Joyce, were married on September 30, 1967.
As a longtime member of the First Lutheran Church in Shelby, Don participated in the tape ministries for several years. Delivering the taped sermons to the homebound and elderly members of the church. He loved spending time and talking with these people.
As a boy who grew up on the Champion family farms, Don never lost his love for the outdoors, especially mowing the lawn, caring for the many flowers or just sitting on the porch in his rocking chair, and watching the feral cats play. In his younger years, he enjoyed doing ceramics and making ceramic Christmas trees for all the family. In his later years, he enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and word search books. He especially loved being with his family at Lake Erie and the Marblehead Lighthouse.
Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce (Elwood) Hartge; son, Scott Andrew (Julia) Hartge of Mansfield; daughter, Trisha Lynette Seybert, of Pennsylvania; granddaughter, Aidalyn Rose Seybert of Pennsylvania; brother, Paul (Abby) Hartge of Shelby; sisters, Patsy Beatty of Galion, Pauline Ward of Florida, Carol Kegley of Huron; sister-in-law, Ellen Joann Rigg of Mansfield; nieces, nephews and other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard, John, Larry, Harold, and Francis; brothers-in-law, William Beatty, Jack Ward and Delbert Rigg, and sisters-in-law, Hazel Hartge and Sue Hartge.
The family will receive visitors on January 9, 2025, from 3:00-5:00 PM at Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society, 9 Chambers Rd Mansfield, Ohio 44906.
Funeral Home: Ohio Cremation & Memorial Society-North Central Ohio
Website: www.ohiocremation.org