Hank Hartwich

Hank David Robert Hartwich, a treasured young man and son known for his quick witted, ornery demeanor, and kind-hearted personality, left us on September 1st, 2024, after an unfair, yet courageous, battle with cancer.  

Born May 27th, 2016, to Will and Casie Hartwich, Hank lived his 8 years in Wamego, KS. Hank was welcomed into this world by his older brother, Ike, and eventually secured the role of older brother to his sister, Cora. Hank was a classic middle child where his mischievous antics were fondly overlooked. 

Hank spent his earliest years playing outside in the dirt with his toy tractors and heavy machinery. Clothing was often optional, and when he was agreeable, it was a set of overalls. When it was time for Hank to enroll in school, he made significant efforts to convince his parents they were doing him a disservice by not allowing him to enter the workforce. For all of time, Hank wanted to grow up to be a “hard-working man” by farming six days a week and playing video games on his day of rest. 

Family and friends were the center of Hank’s world. He adored his cousins Wren & Griffon Hartwich, Kennedy & Cassidy Eichman, and Rory & Rex Deason. Outside of his cousins, Hank ran in a social scene without age discrimination. He had friends at every school in Wamego and loved to invite them to his birthday parties.  

A perfect day for Hank was fishing at his farm with Will and Ike, driving Casie crazy with his refined and colorful vocabulary of cuss words, playing football or basketball with the boys at recess, mowing the grass at his Gigi and Papa’s lake-house, and staking claim to the “buddy seat” in the tractor or combine with Uncle Cody.  

The pride and joy in Hank’s life was his eclectic and evolving set of collections. Over the years, Hank would find items of interest and obsessively procure them until the next area of interest caught his eye. He started with wooden Thomas the Train trains. He later acquired rare Pokémon cards, football & baseball cards, vintage toy tractors/heavy machinery, antique trinkets, Babe Ruth memorabilia (even dressed up as him for Halloween), Legos, Nike high tops and autographs from anyone with the slightest bit of fame.  

Other accomplishments for Hank include earning many medals at youth wrestling tournaments, the 2023 Flag Football Superbowl Champion, and his legendary ability to make people laugh.  

Hank was welcomed into heaven by his grandfather, David Hartwich, and his beloved great-uncle, Stan Hartwich.  

Surviving Hank are his heartbroken parents, siblings Ike (9) and Cora (6), aforementioned cousins, grandparents Rob & Jan Eichman, aunts and uncles Cody & Ashlyn Hartwich, Chris & Kelli Eichman, Travis & Caitlin Deason, his great-grandmother, Virginia Rezac, plus his favorite great aunts Sharon Hartwich and Cindy Falk. Lastly, his beloved dog, Willie and his herd of Angus cattle. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, September 6, 2024, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego. The family will greet friends, 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm., Thursday, at the church. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 pm. They suggest memorial contributions to the Hank Hartwich Memorial Fund: supporting enhancements for future projects in Wamego, KS via the Wamego Community Foundation, and those may be sent in care of Campanella and Stewart Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.campanellastewart.com.