Robert Lane "Bob" Hartzog Jr.

1937 - 2015

Hartzog, Robert Lane Bob Jr. age 77, son of Robert Lane, Sr. and Hazel A. (McLaughlin) Hartzog, was born December 24, 1937 in Plato, MO. He passed away on May 6, 2015. Bobby Lane, as he was known as a child, was born on Christmas Eve in the dining room of his parent's log cabin home in Plato, MO. Bobby went to Plato High School and then SMSU in Springfield, MO for college. He attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis where he graduated Order of the Coif in 1964. Bob joined the United States Army Reserve in 1959 and retired as a Full Bird Colonel in 1997. He served with honor as a member of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and was recognized with The Legion of Merit award in 1991. While in law school, Bob was chosen as Legislative Assistant for Congressmen Richard H. Ichord from the 8th Congressional District in Missouri. One of the highlights of that assignment was Bob's attendance on the stage at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on August 28, 1963 as Martin Luther King delivered his I Have a Dream Speech. In 1968, Bob joined with James E. Dearing to start the law firm Dearing and Hartzog in Clayton, MO. The Village of Twin Oaks was a longtime client and Bob found great pleasure in serving the residents and Board of Trustees for almost 40 years. Bob loved to travel with his wife Mary. Their adventures took them all over the world. He often commented that the beauty of the hillside truffle hunting in Alba, Italy reminded him of the rolling hills of home on the Farm. Bob, Mary, his children and their grandchildren were together often on the family farm in Plato Missouri. There they enjoyed being together in the scenic Ozark surroundings with excellent southern food - debating politics, playing cards, watching movies and mostly trying to make each other laugh. Bob is survived by his wife Mary Russo Hartzog, of Pacific MO; son Robert L. Hartzog III of St. Louis, MO; daughter Meg Sartain and husband Bo of Dallas, TX; five grandchildren Lucy, Abby, Anabelle, Laine and John Bradley. Bob was a fifty year member of the Plato Masonic lodge and a member of the Shriners International. He was a member of the Plato Christian Church. Memorials may be made to The Central Institute for the Deaf of St. Louis 825 S Taylor Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 or the Plato Lynch Cemetery, in lieu of flowers. Services were held Saturday May 9, 2015 at Plato Christian Church. Burial with full military rights was in Plato Lynch Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.