Howard Ervin Hartke, 92, of Litchfield died peacefully at home the evening of June 28, 2026.
Funeral services for Mr. Hartke will be held at noon on Tuesday, July 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cahokia Township, rural Litchfield. Minister Ken Bergo will officiate. Burial will follow in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Mr. Hartke was born November 14, 1933, to August F. Hartke and Anna M. (Rull) Hartke of Litchfield. He was born and died on his family farm. He attended Sunnyside, a one room school near his home, then Litchfield High School, where he played basketball and baseball and graduated in 1951. He attended Washington University in St. Louis and graduated from Bradley University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in history and physical education.
He began his professional career teaching fifth and sixth grade at Harvel Grade School, Panhandle Unit #2 School District. In 1956, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Upon completing basic training at Fort Lewis, WA, he was sent to Fort Holabird in Baltimore, where he attended G2/Intelligence School. He was then assigned to the U.S. Army Regional Headquarters in Germany where he decoded messages during the Cold War.
After his honorable discharge in 1958, Mr. Hartke returned to teaching in Harvel. In 1959, he became principal, teaching seventh and eighth grades and serving as basketball, track and baseball coach. He also coached junior varsity basketball at Raymond High School for one year.
In 1968, Panhandle reorganized the grade levels of its schools and he became principal of the Harvel Elementary School which housed first and second grades; Waggoner Elementary School which became a first, second, third and fourth grade center; and Farmersville Elementary School where there was kindergarten, special education, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. He also coached junior high basketball, track and baseball at Farmersville.
Mr. Hartke was a Charter Member of the Illinois Principals Association and was also a member of the National Education Association, Panhandle Education Foundation, Illinois Retired Teachers Association, the Litchfield Museum, the Missouri Historical Society and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
His favorite pastime was watching high school and college basketball. He was inducted into the Illinois High School Hall of Fame in 1990 as a Friend of Basketball. A season ticket holder at his alma mater, Bradley University, he not only attended home games but also went on many road trips following the team. In addition to Bradley, he was a season ticket holder of St. Louis University basketball. He followed University of Illinois basketball as well and was a season ticket holder for Illini football. He was also a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.
A lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Litchfield, he held many church offices. Beginning in his high school days, Mr. Hartke was president of his local Luther League and President of the Synod chapter. After college and military service, he was appointed church council secretary and served in that capacity for many years. Later he was elected to positions as deacon, trustee, treasurer, secretary and chairman of the church council.
He retired in 1994 but was called out of retirement twice to serve as interim school superintendent of Panhandle School District. During retirement Mr. Hartke and his wife, Jomarilyn, traveled much of the United States and Canada and toured Australia, South America, the Middle East and Europe.
Mr. Hartke is survived by children, Lynn K. Hartke (John Ward), Rick H. Hartke (Cathy Whitson) and Becki A. Hartke (Benjamin Cawthra); and one grandson, Graeme G. Huntley.
He is preceded in death by three siblings, Oliver Hartke, Arthur Hartke and Helen (Hartke) Kirchner (Earl Loeb and William Kirchner); and his wife of 71 years, Jomarilyn Gartner Hartke of Litchfield, whom he married on July 18, 1954, at Zion Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be directed to Project Third Day - Panhandle, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Waggoner Centennial Building, or to the Litchfield Museum.
Plummer Funeral Home is assisting the Hartke family. To leave an online condolence, or to order flowers, please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.
