Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
View All Obituaries from Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
Kay Louise (Kugel) Hartman, of Berlin Heights, left her worldly struggles behind as she died Friday, April 21, 2023 with her husband and daughters by her side in her final hours.
The youngest of two daughters, Kay was born on July 25, 1940 in Norwalk to Donald F. and Biligildis C. (Walter) Kugel. She graduated as salutatorian of her 1958 Norwalk High School class. Her family moved to Ceylon, Ohio shortly thereafter. A chance encounter while buying eggs from a local farm led her to meet her husband of 62 years, John Walter Hartman. They wed June 17, 1960. The city girl adapted to life on Meadow Brook Farm, where together they raised corn, soybeans, wheat, cattle, and daughters. In later years, they added asparagus to the mix and developed many friendships as loyal customers returned each spring for the seasonal delicacy.
In addition to her work on the farm, Kay advocated for agriculture through her employment at the Farm Service Agency of the USDA and through her membership in Farm Bureau, which afforded her an opportunity to grow into various leadership positions and form lasting friendships.
Kay was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Berlin Heights and a member of Erie County Extension Homemakers. She modeled physical fitness for her daughters, regularly participating in aerobics classes and enjoying her favorite seasonal exercise-lawn mowing.
Kay was a strong-minded woman, a loyal friend, and a supportive mother and grandmother. She will be remembered as a woman who was solid in her values.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Annette J. (Kugel) Stower.
She is survived by her husband, John; her three daughters, Sandra Hacker (Michael), of Markle, IN, Darcy Hartman, of Columbus, OH, and Wendy Hartman, of Columbus, OH; and 5 grandchildren, Cassandra (Hacker) Perkey (Tim), of Georgetown, KY, Walter Hacker, of Columbus, OH, Kelton Hartman Vaeth, of Portland, OR, Faye Hartman Vaeth, of Columbus, OH, and Connor Harper, also of Columbus. Her first great grandchild, Ryan Perkey, was born in 2022. She also had a close relationship with her sister, Annette's, children, Debra (Stower) Sayre, of Willard and Ronald Stower, of Norwalk, having lost their mother while they were teens.
Visitation will take place Friday, April 28 from 3-7 p.m. at Toft Funeral Home, Hinman Chapel, 38 South St., Berlin Heights. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 5 East Main St., Berlin Heights. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.
Preferred memorial contributions may be made in Kay's honor to the Berlin Heights Historical Society or the Berlin Heights Community Center, both sent in care of Toft Funeral Home, Hinman Chapel, 38 South St., Berlin Hts., OH 44814.
Toft Funeral Home, Hinman Chapel, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be shared online at toftfuneralhome.com.
