Larry L. Hartog

Larry L. Hartog, 88, passed from this life at 12:36 pm on September 8, 2025, at Our Hospice in Columbus, Indiana, with his family by his side. He had battled cancer of the pancreas for a year. Larry was born on March 23, 1937, in Munster, Indiana, Lake County, to John and Denzel (Sutton) Hartog. While yet a babe, he began to make his home with his maternal grandparents, Elmer and Rena Sutton. They moved near Freetown in Jackson County, Indiana, where he began school. Soon another move took him to Cortland School until seventh grade. He returned to Freetown school where he played baseball and basketball in high school. He received his diploma at a later date. At the age of 17 1/2 , he enlisted into the US Air Force. His first enlistment took him to Sampson AFB, NY, Keesler AFB, MS, Saudi Arabia, and Castle AFB, CA. He re-enlisted and saw duty at Wright-Patterson, AFB, and again to Keesler, AFB, as an instructor in electronics field. After a few years in the private sector, he joined the Air Force Reserves at Bakalar, AFB. He saw duty in Nha Trang, Vietnam, Grisson, AFB, and Barksdale, AFB, and back to WPAFB, where he completed 20 years, and retired as Chief Master Sergeant. He then worked nine years at the Defense Department headquarters at WPAFB, and retired as GS13. In retirement, he enjoyed wood working, gardening, family research, and mowing grass until health conditions stopped all that. On August 9, 1955, he had married his high school sweetheart, Lois McKain. They had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. He was a proud dad to his son, Gregory (Traci), and his daughter, Rhonda Gail Clare (Fred). He is survived by his wife, Lois, of Columbus; son, Gregory (Traci), of Columbus; two grandchildren, Caitlin Clare, of Ohio, and Cameron Hartog (Bria), of Columbus; and two great-grandchildren, Maverick, and Scarlett Hartog, of Columbus. He was known as "PaPaw" to all of them. Also surviving are his step-grandchildren, Niklaus Hatton, of Florida; Taylor Spates (Antonio), of Seymour, IN; Alexa Staley (Kelleigh), of Columbus; and his son-in-law, Fred W. Clare (Liz), of Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, John, and Denzel Hartog; daughter, Rhonda Clare; grandparents, Elmer and Rena Sutton. As his health declined, he found joy in nature by watching squirrels feed at their feeders, and his roses bloom all from his easy chair. He was a member of the local post of the American Legion, and the Rocky Ford Free Methodist Church; Pastor Brian Buterbaugh will be conducting graveside services at 1:00 p.m. Friday September 12, 2023 at Spraytown Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the Jackson County Honor Guard. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home. You are invited to share condolences with the Hartog family via the funeral home website: www.jewellrittman.com