"Keeping The Memories Alive"

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L.J. HARTL



Very sad to report that fellow classmate L.J. Hartl passed away on April 6, 2021.

Below is L.J.'s obituary as published in The Hutchinson News:

Sierra Vista, AZ - Louis J. (L.J.) Hartl died peacefully at his home Tuesday April 6, 2021. He was born on October 13, 1952 at St.Elizabeth 's Hospital in Hutchinson, Kansas the son of Luke and Verlee Hartl.

Cremation has taken place.

L.J. was a 1970 graduate of Hutchinson High School.

L.J. worked for Jackson as a semi-driver. He moved to Durango, Colorado where he worked for Durango Asphalt, living there for nearly 20+ years. While in Durango he fell in love with boating where he became acquainted with Captain Raines. He became first mate for Captain Raines. Following a year internship he attended the Coast Guard School in San Diego to become a Captain so he could take yachts from coast to coast. Many times he sailed through the Panama Canal and several hurricanes. He was very proud of this accomplishment. After 9-11 people didn't travel on the water as much due to the pirating so he went to Alaska to drive semi-trucks on the Dalton Highway/Haul Road from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. He did that from April to October. His co-workers called him a winter chicken because he wouldn't work during the cold season.

L.J. loved people, he never met a stranger, always had a story to tell with GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

Survivors include: sister Beverly Erichsen, Hutchinson, Ks. daughter, Carley Erichsen and Madison, Topeka, Ks; sister Melanie (George) Vogts of Salina, Ks. daughters Lori (Darren) Wilson, Adrie, Kalei and Matthew Powell, Brookville Ks. Lisa Queen, Alex, Morgan and Hannah, Salina Ks; Lana Charvat and Josie, Lindsborg, Ks.

There will be a celebration of life at a date yet to be determined.

Rest In Peace L.J.