It is with grief the family announces the passing of Gene Duane Hartman on November 11, 2013, at his home in St. Johns, Portland.

Gene was born in Ann Harbor, Michigan, May 20, 1938, to Gale and Helvi Hartman. Five generations ago, the family of John Hartman Sr., of Hessian, Germany, arrived in New York on November 18, 1829. John Jr. was six and faintly remembered the Atlantic voyage. They were one of the earliest settlers in Genoa Township, Michigan, in 1837. John Sr.s deed for 80 acres was signed by Martin Van Buren. John Jr. was described in an 1899 obituary as a sturdy German farmer with excellent barns. Gale, who died in Michigan in 1982, was described as an honest man.

Helvis parents came from Finland in the early 1900s and had four girls. Gene was close to his cousin Marvin Hautala, a retired shop teacher. Gene recalled a story of Marvins mother visiting the old farm house in Finland. She heard someone knocking on the front door in the early morning hours and answered it, but no one was there. She was told it was a couple Russian tax collectors the family had buried in the bog.

Gene graduated from Blissfield High School in Michigan, 1956, and joined the Army. He was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 101st is known as the Screaming Eagles. Fictional characters from the division have appeared in Saving Private Ryan, The Dirty Dozen, and Band of Brothers. In his army portrait, a young Gene looks apprehensively from under his helmet in fatigues, a paratrooper falling from the sky behind him. Their mascot is a bald eagle, their motto, Rendezvous with Destiny. Gene was a bachelor since 1976. His house was simply furnished, but for years a large canvas painting hung on his wall, an eagle alighting on a craggy mountain top.

Gene, called Hawkeye by his close friends, was a rebel from his youth, suspended at age 15 for smoking in the boys room, running moonshine in his hollowed-out car in the army, and offering his mail carrier a beer on her hot summer routes.

He told a story of not returning from leave on time. I just wasnt ready to go back, he said. He told his commanding officer he had gotten stuck in a snow storm, coincidentally, near a base known to his CO. Genes CO called the base and asked, Hows the weather down there?

Its just beautiful! the CO replied. Gene said he was caught and demoted for that one, but he learned a lesson. Always tell the truth. Gene was honorably discharged on March 24, 1959.

He came to Oregon that year and worked for a logging company owned by Marvins family. Another cousin, Larry, was killed in a logging accident. Gene met Dolores Gauthier at a café near the Astoria Dough Boy. They married on December 11, 1960, and had three children, Duane, Valerie, and Dean Hartman. They moved to a house owned by Marvins parents in Lewis and Clark. They lived there until Gene and Dolores divorced in 1976. Gene never remarried. He told his grandson, David, a few days before he passed away, he was thinking about Dolores. To his children, he referred to her as Your Ma.

From 1961 to 1966, Gene logged and was a casual longshoreman. In 1966, he became a registered longshoreman at Astorias Local 50. In 1980, he transferred to Local 40, the Supercargoes & Clerks Union in Portland. He checked in and catalogued cargo, working and living in St. Johns. He retired December 1, 1997.

After retiring Gene enjoyed his friendship with Gino, a retired tug boat captain. They went mining together, enjoying the Bohemian Mining District near Cottage Grove. Gino watched the camp while Gene panned for gold. After Gino passed away, Gene hung up his pans and stuck closer to home, enjoying visits with his sons in Astoria.

Through the years Gene worked in his wood shop with Marvin. They made clocks, book cases, bowls, a variety of projects. Last Christmas David worked under Marvins tutelage on a gun stock in the shop, enjoying a long visit with his grandpa.

Gene always kept a wood stove burning outside, holding his own fireside chats. He listened to progressive talk radio and enjoyed converting Republicans at the Portland Rose, his favorite tavern, where he was a much-loved regular. His friends there knew Gene as a Johnny Cash fan, but he once said The Sound of Silence was his favorite song.

Gene embodied the liberal world view and the motto of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, An Injury to One, is an Injury to All, a printout he had hung on his wall. This was the man his friends and family loved. He offered sympathy and support. If you told him bad news, hed reply, Well, I guess well see what happens. He didnt criticize or complain. He believed everyone had to make their own choices, which he didnt complain about, unless they were made by a politician.

He was a generous man and believed in a good quality of life for everyone. Gene was known for living life the way he wanted to, barring commands from the St. Johns Fire Department that he couldnt use the barbecue on his front porch as a burn pit. He replaced it with a wood stove. He defiantly said it would be legal to put in his house. Gene told his good friend and neighbor, Bhupal, during one of their fireside chats, There is nothing I value more than my freedom.

Gene didnt complain about consequences for his own decisions either. If he wasnt well, he wouldnt admit it. If he was happy to see you come in his door, he wouldnt tell you; if he was sorry to see you go, he wouldnt say.

Gene wished he had been a state patrolman. In 2011, he bought his first Harley Davidson trike, and especially liked its bumper sticker: Jesus was a Liberal. He rode in the 2012 St. Johns Parade. He didnt talk about those he helped, but those who are known include the Democratic Party, educational funds, friends and family.

He leaves a huge hole in the lives of Marvin, his children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends, and his family at the Portland Rose. He is survived by his son Duane Hartman and daughter-in-law Brenda; his daughter Valerie Hartman, son-in-law David Richardson, grandsons Nathan Hartman, David, McKenzie, and Paul Meldrum; Dean Hartman, his daughter-in-law Sari Vedenoja Hartman and granddaughter Maija Hartman.

A memorial will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the St. Johns Bachelor Club, 8204 N. Central St. in Portland.

On Veterans Day Gene rendezvoused with his destiny. Go with the wind, Dad. The wind always goes where it wants to. You are loved.