Richard "Dick" Hartell

 Richard Lee Hartell, son of Richard H and Marjorie (Runyan) Hartell, was born on April 6th, 1943, in Auburn, Nebraska.

 On May 4th, 1968, Dick was united in marriage to Sharon Hahn of Johnson, Nebraska. They raised their daughters, Michelle and Julie, in Hallam, Nebraska. During that time, Dick was very active in TaeKwonDo in Lincoln, Nebraska.

 Dick loved teaching TaeKwonDo. He began teaching TaeKwonDo in his basement in Hallam. Once class size exceeded the basement capacity, he and Sharon started their first TaeKwonDo Academy in Beatrice, Nebraska in September of 1986. Due to the success of the Beatrice Academy, Dick and Sharon went on to start academies in Fairbury, Marysville Kansas, Auburn, and Lincoln. They held 5-state regional tournaments in Beatrice, promoting the sport he so dearly loved. Because of his leadership with the tournaments, Dick was also the assistant director of the martial arts division in the Cornhusker State Games.

 Dick took any opportunity to tell his students about the Lord. TaeKwonDo held a valuable platform to tell his students about Jesus. He loved his students and wanted to ensure they understood that Jesus loved them. You could often find him talking to students and getting to know them personally. Some of his students would seek his ‘fatherly advice’ and just need someone who would listen to them. He took the instructor role very seriously and wanted to see all of his students excel.

Lover of the outdoors, Dick’s hobbies include boating, camping, water-skiing, mushroom hunting, and cutting wood. All things he loved doing with his family. He enjoyed teaching water-skiing to anyone who wanted to get behind his boat. He also loved to share stories of boating and skiing on the Missouri River.

 Once Dick retired from Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, he and Sharon moved to Anthem, Arizona in September 2019.

 After a long and fierce battle with cancer, Dick passed at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, AZ, on September 10th, 2024. He was diagnosed with cancer on May 28th, 2018.

 Dick is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Beverly Gilbertson and Donna Behrends, brothers-in-law Rod Rademacher, Milt Gilbertson, and Maynard Behrends.

 His loving family includes Michelle (Don) Bell of Sparks, Nevada, Julie (Paul) Peterson of Anthem, Arizona, grandchildren Brandon Peterson of Scottsdale, Arizona, Aerity (Andrew) Engel of Reno, Nevada, Kyle (Angela) Peterson of Anthem, Arizona, Arianna (Konner) Blackwell of Queen Creek, Arizona. He was very excited to learn that he was going to be a great grandpa to 2 great-grandsons in February 2025.

An adored husband, father, grandfather, teacher, friend, and disciple of the Lord, the memory of Dick is held close to the hearts of the lives he impacted.

A private family graveside service will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Cemetery at Johnson, Nebraska.  

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the American Cancer Society.