Wm. Brian Hartman
September 29, 1955 – November 5, 2022
A celebration of Brian’s life will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Martell’s Restaurant, 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. This will be an open-house style event and all are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers, drinks, desserts and live music from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Brian’s memorial at The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) https://bit.ly/BrianHartman (case-sensitive) or search for his memorial at https://join.pcf.org/memorials/memorials.
Obituary
With great sadness, we share that Wm. Brian Hartman, 67, of Michigan, passed away on November 5, 2022, after a courageous battle against cancer. He fought mightily with his daughter-in-law, Lindsay, tenaciously by his side along the way.
Brian was born on September 29, 1955, to his parents, Bill & Marian Hartman, and was later joined by his brother, Rob. The son of teachers, he grew up in several interesting places including Hershey, PA and Frankenmuth, MI where he would graduate high school in 1973.
After a brief tour of the world while serving in the US Merchant Marines, he discovered his love for the sea as a well-fed passenger thanks to a misplaced air tank leading to a broken toe.
Brian then went on to eventually graduate from Western Michigan University where he discovered his other lifetime love for real estate which led to his first of many businesses, Kalamazoo Appraisal Service.
While in Kalamazoo, he met his former wife, Debra Pylat, and went on to have their only child, a son, William “Bill” Brian Hartman II, that was his self-proclaimed greatest accomplishment and pride of his life. All that knew Bill and Brian were well aware that when Brian tried to describe his son, he could only say \"When I grow up, I want to be like my son, Bill.\"
Brian always lived life to the absolute fullest and encouraged everyone around him to do the same. Whether he was in the Caribbean, Lake Michigan, the mountains, or Up North, he believed life was meant to be lived. Whether driving motorcycles, cars, boats, snowmobiles, planes, or even a snowplow or a lawn mower, he always chased joy and found great happiness in watching others do the same.
Along the way, he became best friends with everyone he encountered and he loved them all. Each new person became part of his family. Every person got to have a grand story with him. These hundreds or thousands of people were embraced with his encouragement, knowledge, laughter, support, and love.
Brian is survived by his son, William \"Bill\" Hartman and beloved daughter-in-law, personal attorney, chef, chauffeur, and loving caregiver, Lindsay (Davenport) Hartman of Grand Haven, MI. He was predeceased by his parents, William \"Bill\" and Marian (Marx) Hartman and brother. Robert Hartman.
A private burial was held at West Oshtemo Cemetery in Kalamazoo, MI. A tribute to Brian will also be placed in the cemetery on Mackinac Island for all to visit while living up life, as he wished.
A celebration of Brian’s life will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Martell’s Restaurant, 3501 Greenleaf Blvd., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. This will be an open-house style event and all are invited to enjoy heavy appetizers, drinks, desserts and live music from 5:00 to 9:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Brian\'s memorial at The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) https://bit.ly/BrianHartman (case-sensitive) or search for his memorial at https://join.pcf.org/memorials/memorials.
For the past 17 years, Brian has been my closest friend, mentor, and business partner. I will miss him walking into the office for what we jokingly would say is \”the most important decision of the day\”…..where to eat lunch, and will never forget his calorie analysis of the Coney Dog having fewer calories than a Panera salad. Brian\’s vision of setting others up for success before his own, and always helping others will be ingrained in me forever. I\’m forever grateful for the insight, positive mindset, life lessons, and laughter. Brian never said \”Goodbye\” at the end of the day, maybe it was too permanent. He would always say mañana. The family and I will miss him greatly. mañana, Brian. Thank you and I love you.
Harty, You are already missed my friend. I have lots of fond memories of times we spent together in Kalamazoo. Many of which cannot be mentioned here. Living life to the fullest was always your way. Even having a birthday party for Bill the day Bill was born. It is sad to see you go too soon. Gods speed Harty, Max
Bill and Lindsay, Many condolences on your Dad’s passing. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Bill and Deb
Dear Bill and Lindsay: This is just a short note to personally extend my deepest condolences in learning of your Dad’s graduation into the larger life. My wife, Diana, made me aware of it the day after his death from your initial facebook post. Your Dad, Scott Johnson and I all grew up together on the Green Lake peninsula. We were the three musketeers. We lived together in 1974 at my family’s cottage. Brian and I were attending NMC while Scott worked at Crystal Mt. That arrangement only lasted one year because I transferred to U of M. We all went our separate ways but remained a brotherhood of friends. Learning about his battle with cancer was shocking because he never said anything to me the last time we spoke a few months ago. I can relate to what you may be experiencing because I spent six months caring for each of my parents just prior to their death; Dad in July of 2020 on our son, James’ birthday and Mom the following year in August two days after my birthday. You may or may not recall that I also presided over your Grandfather, Bill’s and your Uncle Rob’s burial. I would be honored to be a part of your Dad’s burial, too. Please contact me either at the email address listed on this post (robbsts2@aol.com) or call my cell (248) 207-0867. In the meantime, please remember that grief is an on-going personal process. Like the water in Grand Traverse Bay, it will build into a seemingly unbearable wave only to subside into a calming stillness. These waves of shock and sadness coupled with feelings of desertion will come and go with no discernable pattern, much like the Lord deciding, in His perfect Wisdom, to call your father home to the place He prepared just for him. When and if your heart becomes troubled over what has happened to your father or any other matter that may confront and confound your lives, remember these words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-3). Remember the remedy for these ailments is belief and faith in Christ the solid Rock of our salvation. By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, our belief in God becomes comfortable. Those that rightly believe in Jesus Christ, and believing in God through Jesus Christ is an excellent means of keeping trouble from the heart. The joy of faith is the best remedy against the griefs of sense. Bill and Lindsay, if you need somebody to just talk to, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would be glad to listen to whatever you may need to get off your chest. May God continue to richly bless you and yours with the healing power of the Holy Spirit now…and forevermore. Amen Your sincere friend in Christ, Robb Churella
Bill, after learning of Brian’s passing we wanted to reach out to you. Not only sadden because he was such a pleasure to run into and share great conversations with too. But we shared many great times with Brian from the Paw Paw days before you were born to the Lakecrest Apartments in South Haven where Linda Bruemmer and I had an apartment in the South building. It’s where the fun never stopped. Then our boat was just down from several of Brian’s boats on the Black River at Jenson Marina for many years. Where there was always good times happening. I watched you grow up and then Dave and I listened to the many great stories of what you were doing as your father cheered you on in most of your adventures. God called Brian home way to early but we never know. So we live life to the fullest and enjoy each day. In our hearts we believe Brian did that. He is missed and will be included in wonderful stories forever. That speaks volumes!