Robert W. Hartsook

Robert W. Hartsook died Monday, 31 October, 2005 at his home in Zanesville. He was 89, born July 7, 1916, in Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Hartsook was a graduate of Iowa State University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He also served in the ROTC at Iowa State and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduation. He was employed as an Electrical Engineer by Line Material when they opened in Zanesville in 1938. He worked for them, and their successors, McGraw-Edison and Cooper Industries, for 44 years, retiring in 1982. He worked in many capacities, including electrical testing and transformer design, and retired as a Chief Engineer. He was a registered professional engineer in Ohio and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Iowa State University Alumni Association, the Argonne Post of the American Legion, Des Moines, Iowa, and the National Rifle Association. In 1941 he was called to active duty as a Field Artillery officer in the U.S.Army. Entering with the rank of Second Lieutenant, he served in the U.S., England and Europe. He rose to Major by the end of the war and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. His battalion of 240mm howitzers, the 269th Field Artillery Battalion, landed on Utah Beach after D-Day and participated, inter alia, in the relief of the Bulge, where the men fired captured German 105mm howitzers. He was discharged in 1946. His story has been told in more detail in the Veterans of War series published by the Zanesville Times-Recorder. In the 1950's, when the Ohio University Branch was still located in Zanesville High School, he taught evening classes in the Slide Rule, Geometry, Algebra and Trigonometry. He is survived in Zanesville by his son Andrew and daughter Jan, her husband William Hunt, his granddaughter Elena, her husband Keith Kent and their son Aaron. His granddaughter Celia and her husband Walter Sakir live in Columbus with his great-granddaughter Marissa. His grandson Martin Barnhart lives in Athens. His care-giver of five years, Sue Paisley, and former care-giver Wendy Clason, mourn with us. He was preceded in death by his wife Mabel M. Hartsook, on March 18, 1996, his father Robert N. Hartsook, his mother Juanita M. Karlan, a half-brother Reed Hartsook and a half-sister Harriet King. At Mr. Hartsook's request, funeral services will be private and no visiting hours will be observed. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to Hospice or a veteran's charity. Bolin-Dierkes Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1271 Blue Avenue, Zanesville entrusted with all arrangements