Kenneth Douglas Hartfelder, 62, of Muskogee passed away, Thursday, December 6, 2007 in Tulsa, OK. He was born November 7, 1945 in Wichita, KS to Leslie and Elsie Hartfelder. Ken graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1963. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in history at Kansas State College of Pittsburg, KS in 1968. Upon graduation, Ken was Commissioned in the Army and served as an advisor in the central highlands of Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, a Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge. He served for three years and was discharged with the rank of Captain in May, 1971. Ken worked for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth, KS from 1971 to 1974. He then decided to attend the University of Kansas at Lawrence where he earned a Master of Social Work Degree. After graduation in 1974, Ken returned to the VA where he worked as a social worker in Muskogee. He retired in 1996. Ken was a strong man with a positive attitude. Everyone he met was greeted with kindness and compassion and a lasting impression of a true friend. Ken is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy (McIlrath) Hartfelder; his sons, Kenny Hartfelder of Moore, OK and Bobby Hartfelder of Broken Arrow, OK; grandchildren: Morgan, Lance, Halie, James, and Robert, his brother, Ron Hartfelder and wife Sis of Florida, and numerous friends and relatives. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 10, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Reverend Bryan Brooks and Reverend Charles Bruner officiating. Burial will be a 2:00 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Fort Gibson with Ken Meyer, Darren Baber, Sean Olds, Lonnie Kirkendall, Bob Short, and Tommy Rozelle serving as pallbearers. The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral Service of Muskogee with the Arrangements. Friends may send condolences to the family on the web page www.bradleyfuneralservice.com.


Muskogee Daily Phoenix, 9 DEC 2007
transcribed by Randy Painter