Larry K. Hartman, of Springfield, Missouri, passed into the presence of his Savior, Jesus, on January 19, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield. Larry was born July 20, 1954, in Elkins, West Virginia, to the late Emory and Alice (Teter) Hartman. He graduated from Cloverleaf High School in Lodi, Ohio, in 1972. He married Dawn Feller in 1975. In 1976, he graduated from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible. In 1980, he earned his Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, also in Springfield, Missouri.
Larry ministered in several churches. He served at First Assembly of God in Manhattan, Kansas, as youth, Christian education, and Chi Alpha leader (for Kansas State University). In 1980, Larry and his family moved to Wamego, Kansas, where he accepted the pastorate of Wamego Assembly of God, which was two years old and meeting in the parsonage basement. With the congregation’s assistance, the house’s garage was converted into a sanctuary where the congregation met for worship while Sunday school classes met in the basement. The congregation was a praying group, and God worked miracles to provide a church building. Many of the church members assisted in completing the interior of the building.
Working was Larry’s delight. To supplement his income, he worked with a local plumber, managed school bus routes and vehicles as well as driving himself, served as a substitute teacher in the local high school, and cooked for the state Assemblies of God church campground. He also volunteered as a reserve deputy sheriff for the city. He pastored Wamego Assembly of God through 1988. Larry pastored Westport Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, from 1989 to 1999.
Larry had a pastor’s heart. He spent hours with the people of his churches and their family members, even those who did not attend the church. He regularly visited shut-ins and people in the hospital. He remodeled older areas of the church building and maintained the surrounding property.
After resigning from the pastorate, Larry worked in security at Cox Hospital before becoming a bailiff for the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield. He served as a bailiff for 20 years. In his off hours, he had a lawn-mowing business and worked security for a local Veterans of Foreign War organization and the Springfield Gun Show. He also served for some years as a Reserve Deputy for Greene County.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Emory and Alice, and his older brother Steven. He is survived by his wife, Dawn; daughter, Saraya; son, David; and granddaughter, Dakota; as well as his sister, Sherry Plaster, and his brother, Ed Hartman.
A visitation for Larry will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri. A funeral service for Larry will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., at Greenlawn Funeral Home North with burial to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Larry’s memory to the Wykes-Feller-Hartman Scholarship for ministry students:
Wykes, Feller, Hartman Scholarship Fund at Evangel University: https://www.evangel.edu/advancement/.
In the “Designation” field enter the name of the endowment: E10015 Wykes, Feller, Hartman Scholarship Fund.
Cards for the family may be sent in care of Dawn Hartman at P.O. Box 8, Springfield, MO 65801-0008.
Arrangements are under the compassionate direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri.