WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Daniel Franklin Hart, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Jan. 28, 2014, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville.
He was born July 28, 1932, in Sturgis, a son of the late Cleo Ray and Florence Dorothy (Rumbaugh) Hart.
Dan resided most of his life in the Sturgis area. On Sept. 1, 1954, he married Margaret Maurine Masten in Vicksburg.
He retired from Americraft Carton in Sturgis following 45 years of dedicated employment.
Dan was proud to have served his country from Jan. 11, 1951, to Jan. 10, 1954, in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of corporal.
He was a longtime active member of the First Church of God, now known as Sturgis Foursquare Church.
Dan was a loyal fan of the University of Michigan and especially enjoyed watching the Wolverines football games on television. He also enjoyed driving his car to restaurants and through the countryside, attending the Battle Creek Balloon and Field of Flight Show, old classic car shows, air shows that featured the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels and seeing the old trains at the New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Ind. Dan was always known as the man to call upon if something was broken as he always seemed to be able to figure out how it needed to be fixed.
He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 59 years, Margaret; two daughters, Brenda Lynn (David) Thoms and Karen Sue (Charles) Getzloff, both of Sturgis; a son, Larry Hart of Sturgis; grandchildren Danelle (Jonathon) Russ of Sturgis, Jessica (Davis) Bruderick of Sturgis, Jeff Thoms and John Thoms both of Sturgis, Jeremiah Hart, Jamie Marie (Allen) Corier, Chad (Angela) Weinberg, Lillie Getzloff and Charlie Getzloff;; great-grandchildren Rachel Russ, Matthew Russ, Kylie Bruderick, Ethan Weinberg, Korbin Weinberg and Charity Weinberg; two sisters, Lois Valentine and Burdena (Jack) Riley, both of Sturgis; a brother, Lawrence (Linda) Hart of Sturgis; a brother-in-law, Gerald Jackson of Sturgis; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Linda Grace Bellaire; a son, Dennis LaRoy Hart; a sister, Estella Jackson; and a brother, Raymond Dale Hart.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Daniel F. Hart will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Revs. Doug and Pam Carr of Sturgis Foursquare Church will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. Full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Hart’s memory consider Southern Care Hospice, 4341 South Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008 or Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation, 441 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032.
