LARRY GENE HART

Larry Gene Hart passed away on December 4, 2008, in Edwardsburg, Michigan.
I’m sure if you asked him he would humbly say he didn’t make much of an impression in the world.  He clearly valued his family above all else and was one of the most responsible people you would ever meet.

He lived a life of work hard, play hard mentality.  He was born in Adrian, Michigan and lived in Tecumseh, Michigan for much of his young life, where he was also a standout athlete in High School along with his lifelong best friend, Dick Whelan.  He originally worked for his father as a meat cutter, and after attending business school, later for A&P in Tecumseh.  He then helped open a new A&P store in Coldwater, Michigan as the Meat Dept Manager.  He also worked as the store manager for Reyburns Clothing Store in Coldwater, then as an accountant for AIA and later Essex Corporation.  He decided at Essex that sales was something he liked, so he established his own independent sales rep business, representing a number of manufacturers & products until his retirement.

Coldwater, Michigan was where he and his first wife Nita raised their four kids: Susan, Lauri, Scott and Gregg.  After his divorce, he moved from Coldwater to Michigan City, Indiana, where he lived with his second wife, Lois.  He divorced again and moved to Quincy, Michigan where he lived on Marble Lake.  After meeting and marrying his third wife, Cheryl, he moved to Edwardsburg, Michigan where he spent the rest of his life.   

When Larry wasn’t working, you’d find him spending his time playing games, golfing, fishing or going to local high school ball games.  He enjoyed touring the country in his camper and enjoyed meeting people wherever he went.  He was civic minded and felt compelled to serve as a Branch County (MI) Commissioner for a number of years.  He was also active in many civic groups including the Rotary Club, the Elks and other similar organizations over the years.  He volunteered recently for Meals on Wheels.

His family thinks Larry would like to simply be remembered as a fine upstanding and independent man and someone with whom many enjoyed having a few beers and laughs.  He loved hearing and telling jokes.  He was immensely proud of his children and felt he squeezed a lot of enjoyment out of his 74 years.  

He is survived by his brothers Vere(Charlynn)Hart, Albert(Janice)Hart and sister Joan(Ed)Mantel as well as his four children, Susan Hart of Rising Sun, IN; Lauri Hart of Wyoming, MI; Scott Hart of Kalamazoo, MI; and Gregg Hart of Santa Barbara, CA and his favorite dog, Skeeter.