David Hartz

1956 - 2016

David James Hartz

Missoula —David James Hartz, 59, passed away on September 28 surrounded by his sisters and friends, at the Community Medical Center ICU after a short illness.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on October 23, at University Congregational Church, 405 University Avenue, in Missoula. Please bring a favorite picture or story to share.

David was born October 23, 1956 to Lorraine and Chester Hartz of Fairfield Montana. He attended Fairfield schools and graduated high school in 1976. After high school, David lived and worked in Havre. He attended Northern Montana College and worked in home health care. He moved to Great Falls and attended College of Great Falls where he earned an Associates degree. He worked in home health care and sold Watkins products.

David married Viola Blankenship on July 3, 1996 at First English Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Montana. Viola passed away during 1998. David moved to Missoula in 2004. He called the move a restart. While living there he worked for The Cracker Barrel and the Missoula County School District.

David made friends easily and it was not unusual to see 3 or 4 on his trips around town. He joined Bullet Gym and through coaching from Mike Casey, hard work and better diet, David lost over 100 pounds and overcame Type 2 diabetes. He was one of few to achieve that milestone. David loved sports, mainly baseball and became an avid Osprey fan. He was also a huge fan of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. In addition he liked to cook and this year he won several ribbons for his cooking entries at the Western Montana Fair. He was hoping to become a cook or develop a small home-based baking business.

He was preceded in death by his parents Chester and Lorraine Hartz and his wife Viola. David is survived by his sisters Judy Hartz of Missoula, Elaine Ryan (Dennis) of Missoula, brothers Charles Hartz (Vicki) of Fargo North Dakota and Jack Hartz (Lynn) of Anchorage Alaska, 4 nephews, 2 nieces, 2 grandnieces and 4 grandnephews.

The family would like to thank the Nurses and Doctors at Community Medical Center ICU for their kind and gentle care of David during his last days. Others who helped him through the years were Partnership Health Services, Community Medical Center Home and Community Based Services, JOBS (Job Opportunity Based Services), and Missoula Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

Special thanks are directed to Jalaine Wark and Larry Shaw who both supported David and were his best friends. His good friend,Pastor Amy Carter of University Congregational Church, also comforted David while hospitalized.

In lieu of flowers, donations in David's memory may be made to the University Congregational Church, 405 University Avenue, Missoula MT 59801; Families Promise of Missoula, PO Box 5882, Missoula, MT 59804; or the charity of ones choice.

Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies of Missoula are providing cremation arrangements.