Vern Ashton Hartmann

Vern Ashton Hartmann, age 85 of West Chester passed away Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Bethesda North Hospital. He was born on January 24, 1922 in Indian Hill, Cincinnati, the son of Carl H. and Vivian (Davis) Hartmann. On July 1, 1978 he married Alice (Combs) Brewer, who was the love of his life. No man could have loved his wife more; she was his life, his joy, his pride, and his loving partner whom he worshipped, and she in turn will love him until the day she joins him in Heaven. Vern graduated from Anderson Township High School in 1941 and attended the University of Cincinnati for two years, majoring in aeronautical engineering. He spent over three years in the U.S. Air Force as a control tower operator. He was employed at Ahrens Fox Fire Engineer Company for seven years, Davison Chemical Company for three years, and at GE Evendale for thirty-seven and a half years as Engineering Assistant, Fiber Optics Division.

Vern joined the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) in 1949. A past president of S.A.M., he put on more than 50 magic shows and all the children referred to him as the Magic Man. Vern joined the F.O.E. Aerie #407 in 1981, and served as worthy treasurer for six years, worthy president for two years, and worthy chaplain for six years. He was a renowned woodworker since 1985, making detailed jewelry boxes, pens, pencils, and letter opener sets from exotic woods from all over the world. He made in excess of 1500 pen and pencil sets. Vern also made working wooden padlocks and combination locks, and rebuilt and repaired magical apparatus for professional magicians. He invented and made a magic money-making machine which earned him high honors and was published in magician magazines.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Hartmann; two sons, Pastor Carl David Hartmann of Lakeland, Florida and Bruce Leo Hartmann of Cincinnati; three daughters, Bonnie Miller of Vancouver, Washington, Kathleen (Brewer) Oglesby of Hamilton and Esther Candee (Brewer) Gleason of Las Vegas; two sons-in-law, Philip R. Oglesby, whom Vern describes as a godsend and Michael Gleason, who was a great supporter of Vern; and a daughter-in-law, Darlene Hartmann. Vern dearly loved Kathy, Candee and all his stepchildren and felt as if they were his own, and they loved him as much in return. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a very special granddaughter, Hope (Keating) Warren, whom he dearly loved; a special grandson, Eric J. Goodwin; and a devoted sister, Evelyn Combs. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Wade W. Hartmann; a son, Rick Brewer; a daughter, Gail (Brewer) Groomes; brothers-in-law Kenneth Combs, Marvin Combs, Joe Simpson and Troy Snowden; sisters-in-law Shirley Combs Simpson, Georgia Agnes (Combs) Snowden Whitis, Ruth (Woedel) Combs, and Jeannie (Waters) Combs; and a loving mother-in-law, Lillie Esther (Hensley) Combs-Laws.

A celebration of Vern’s life will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 330 Pershing Avenue, on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 2:00 PM with breaking of the wand ceremonies by fellow magicians, including Ken Klosterman. Entombment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Butler # 407 memorial services will be held Wednesday at 7:30 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the staffs of Bethesda North Hospital and Hospice of Cincinnati for their care and concern.