Samuel Brent Hartmann

Samuel Brent Hartmann

Samuel Brent Hartmann, 71, of Strafford, NH died unexpectedly at home on September 10th, 2025. Sam had recently been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of brain cancer and was optimistically participating in a clinical trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

Sam was born on February 17, 1954, in New Braunfels, TX: the son of Raymond and Lorraine (Conran) Hartmann and the last of three sons. Growing up Sam spent time fishing, hunting and camping with his family. Sam attended New Braunfels High School in Texas and played baseball as a pitcher. In one game, Sam struck out twenty-one other players thus winning the Championship District Title. He graduated in 1972 and went on to attend the University of Texas on a baseball scholarship. When Sam was sidelined by a sports injury he enrolled in the ROTC Program. Sam graduated from University of Texas in 1976. He was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1977 and served as a Budget Officer for two years waiting patiently for a pilot assignment. He achieved his dream in 1980 when he completed pilot training.

In 1981 while stationed at MacDill AFB, Sam met Linda on a blind date that began a 44-year love story. Soon Sam was assigned to fly the F-4E Phantom fighter with 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Georgia. Sam and Linda were married in Valdosta, Georgia on September 4, 1983. A year later, he accepted an assignment to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Taegu, Korea, again flying the F-4E. Sam was selected and honored to join an elite group of pilots to fly the (top secret at the time) F117 Stealth Fighter as part of the 4450th Stealth Fighter Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada. After serving his country for 14 years, Sam separated from the USAF and began employment as a commercial pilot with United Parcel Service (UPS). While at UPS, Sam was selected to become a Federal Flight Deck Officer. He retired 25 years later in 2015. During Sam's long career as a pilot he flew the T38 trainer, the F-4E Phantom fighter (his favorite), the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth fighter, the Boeing 727 and lastly the Airbus 300.

Sam was a family man who attended every band concert, basketball and soccer game he could. He shared and encouraged his son's love of guitars and music; he was his daughter's number one fan at basketball and soccer games; and he reluctantly learned to love and support his wife's flowers and gardening efforts. Sam thoroughly loved and relished time with his family. He was especially proud to be Ope (Grandfather) to his two grandsons. Although Sam was a native Texan, he loved living on Bow Lake and raising his family in New Hampshire for over 30 years.

Sam loved many things during his lifetime; family and friend get-togethers, golf, boating on Bow Lake, baseball, cooking, snowmobiling, playing cards, walking on the beach, deer hunting, listening to classic rock, reading, sitting on the deck enjoying the view and Bow Lake sunsets. He was quick witted and loved making and proving a point! Sam was a generous, humble and loving man, yet he was a competitive opponent when playing golf or cards with friends. Sam made friends easily and was well respected by colleagues, competitors and friends.

Sam is survived by his wife of 42 years, Linda Rowland Hartmann; their two children Steven Hartmann and partner Jen D'entremont, of Strafford, NH; Anna Hartmann and husband Quincy Coleman of Cypress,Texas; two older brothers Max Hartmann and wife Frannie of Doss, Texas, and David Hartmann of New Braunfels, Texas; his grandchildren, Adam Hartmann of Strafford, NH, Dillon Coleman of Cypress, Texas, and Greg D'entremont of Abilene, Texas; his nephew Ray Hartmann and wife Trudy; niece, Angela (Hartmann) Brock and husband Thomas of Dublin, Texas; and nephew Brooks Hartmann and wife Tina of Bluff Dale, Texas.

He was predeceased by his parents Raymond and Lorraine Hartmann.

A gathering, "Remembering Sam" will be held on Sunday, October 12th, 2025, from 2-5pm at the Bow Lake Community Center/ Grange Hall, 569 Province Road, Strafford, NH 03884.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating by supporting Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund 's mission to conquer cancer, the Glioblastoma Foundation or to the Bow Lake Camp Owners Association to promote lake conservation, loon and eagle preservation, and water quality monitoring on Bow Lake.

For those friends and family who are unable to attend the Bow Lake NH memorial service, there will be a second service to remember Sam on October 24th, at the Forke Store at The New Braunfels Conservation Society, 1300 Church Hill Drive, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 from 6-9 pm.

A military graveside service and interment will be held at the NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH at a later date.

To sign our online guest book, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com.