James Hartmann

On April 3, 2025 James Edward Hartmann, Jr. of Holland, MI and Glen Arbor, MI unexpectedly passed away due to natural causes with his wife, Cyndie, by his side in their Holland home. He was born on May 1, 1950 in Detroit, MI to James Edward and Georgiana Mae (Wichtman) Hartmann, Sr.

As a young boy, Jim was a paper boy, Cub Scout, altar boy, and baseball player while attending St. Bernadine Catholic School, Westland, MI. He was a 1968 graduate of Franklin High School, Livonia, MI. While in high school and community college he worked to earn money to purchase his first car, which was a 1963 Pontiac Tempest and then he purchased his 1965 Chevy Impala SS. He really had fun racing his cars. Many years later he purchased his 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2.

Jim attended Schoolcraft Community College, Livonia, MI for two years and met Cynthia Ann Barry while she was attending Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI. It was love at first sight and they were married on September 3, 1971 in Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church, Redford, MI. They moved into married housing at Michigan Technological University (MTU), Houghton, MI, where Jim earned his civil engineering degree and Cyndie was employed as a secretary in the Forestry Department. Their first son, Scott, was born on August 16, 1973 two weeks prior to Jim’s MTU commencement. Their second son, Andrew, was born on April 23, 1975 in Jackson, MI where Jim began his engineering career at Commonwealth Associates.

When Jim’s sons were young, he volunteered as their Cub Scout leader, baseball coach and baseball umpire. He attended their school and extracurricular activities. When his four grandchildren were born, he attended their school and extracurricular activities, also. Jim’s main priority was spending time with his family. He was a very devoted husband, father, and grandfather (Papa). His family always knew that he loved them by the hugs he gave and the fun he had with them. He especially enjoyed sharing time with his family for over 53 years at Glen Lake, Glen Arbor, MI, where they enjoyed their cottage, bonfires, barbecues, climbing the sand dunes, looking for Petoskey stones, sailing, skiing, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, tubing and watching hummingbirds at their bird feeders. Jim and Cyndie attended St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Empire, MI while at their cottage. He was a member of the Leelanau Conservancy, Glen Arbor Art Association, and Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes organizations.

Throughout Jim’s career, he was employed by eight engineering firms, including international firms such as Bechtel Power and Black & Veatch where he was a Department Head. He was a superb engineer, and there are over 100 structures throughout the United States and Indonesia that he designed. He was a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. He retired in 2009.

Jim enjoyed building remote control cars, sailboats, airplanes, and drones. He also enjoyed designing and printing projects with his 3-D printer, playing pool, coin collecting, reading, sewing, fishing, boating, target shooting, cooking, baking, gardening, walking, bird watching, woodworking, jigsaw puzzles, dancing and working on cars. Jim could fix anything and was a talented designer and builder. He designed and built their family’s first home in Jackson, MI. He installed the plumbing, electricity, windows, molding, flooring, siding, shingles, etc. Jim’s favorite rendition of “Over the Rainbow/It’s a Wonderful World” is sung by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.

Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Holland, MI. He was a Third-Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus Council 7115. For many years, he served on the K of C board as treasurer and served on the church’s funeral committee. Jim enjoyed researching his genealogy and was proud of his German and French heritage. He traced his ancestry and found that he had two ancestors, Ulrich Brinker, and Martin Frey, who were in the American Revolution. He was a proud member of the West Michigan Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Jim was a gentleman who had a strong Christian faith, had integrity, was loyal, and had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be remembered as a fun loving, generous and kind man. Jim will truly be missed but not forgotten.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53-1/2 years Cynthia Ann (Barry) Hartmann, Holland, MI; his adoring children: Scott James (Wendy) Hartmann of Sparta, MI, and Andrew Barry (Colleen) Hartmann, Muskegon, MI, and his sweet grandchildren who called him Papa, including Kennzie Hartmann, Reese Hartmann, Ansel Hartmann, and Alexander Hartmann. He is also survived by his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Patrick and Cheryl Barry, Jr., of Livonia; Shirley and Timothy Sabourin, of Linden; Elizabeth Hengesbach, of Lansing; and Timothy Barry of Westland; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who join the family in mourning his death while giving thanks to God for his life among them.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James Edward and Georgiana Mae (Wichtman) Hartmann, Sr., his grandparents, George and Leona (Brinker) Wichtman, and Robert and Frances (Dahl) Hartmann; and his father- and mother-in-law, Patrick and Elizabeth (Collette) Barry, Sr.

“Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on May 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 480 152nd Avenue, Holland. Father Michael Burt will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Holland, MI.

Memorial gifts in Jim’s name may be given to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, or to The Leelanau Conservancy, 105 North First St., Leland, MI 49654.