Richard Jerome Hartje

Passed away January 30, 2017, in Tucson, Arizona. Born September 28, 1937, in Rockford, Illinois, to Erv and Eulah Hartje and moved with his family to Tucson in the late 1940s. He graduated from Tucson High School in 1955 and served in the Army Reserves from 1955 to 1962, completing a mechanics course at Camp Irwin in California. His father Erv opened the original Erv’s Equipment Rental on Fifth Street in 1952, and followed with the Kolb Road location in 1961.

Erv’s was truly a family business. Dick worked together with his father and took over the reins to the business along with his sister Sharon when Erv passed away in 1986. Erv’s Equipment Rental was a local institution that served multiple generations of the Tucson community for 62 years until its final closure in 2014. Dick was beloved for his philanthropy both personally and through his business, which sponsored many youth sports teams and adult bowling teams throughout the years.

Dick first married Carolyn Cole and together they had two children, Deborah and Richard. He later married Donnell Gibson and they had 3 sons: Randall, James and John. On July 4, 1973, he married Willa (Billie) Rose Terry, who had four children: Charles, Chris, Cynthia and Cathleen. Dick loved nothing more than spending time together with his family. He proudly attended countless events for his children. Dressed in his ubiquitous plaid shirts and sporting an amused grin that often gave way to hearty laughter, he always enjoyed sharing stories of his many years in Tucson as well as the latest adventures and accomplishments of his children. Dick was an exceptionally generous, kind, honorable man, and he will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by nine children: daughter, Deborah J. Falconer (Ralph); son, Richard Jerome Van Winkle (Lori Jean); son, Randall Hartje (Janette); son, James Hartje (Heather); son, John Hartje; son, Charles Terry (Susan); son, Chris Terry (Debi); daughter, Cynthia Terry Jarmon (Tom); daughter, Cathleen Terry; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by both parents; his sister, Sharon; and his wife, Billie.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 10:00 AM at East Lawn Palms Mortuary.

Arrangements under the direction of East Lawn Palms Mortuary, Tucson, AZ.