Norman Bailey Hartsock

We are sad to announce the passing of our dad Norman B Hartsock on March 15th, 2026 at 97 years young. Norman always asked why he kept waking up every day and his doctor would tell him “see you next year.”

Norman was born in central Pennsylvania where he was the third of four boys. The Hartsock boys kept their parents busy by getting into mischief and cracking jokes with their “cornball” humor. The brothers were close throughout their lives. Norman was famous for being a ham and loved telling stories about his secret chemistry experiments and his part time job at the Clearfield Dairy. Good thing they didn’t have Instagram back then.

After high school Norman went in to the Army, sneaking in at 17. Since he could speak German he was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corp and was stationed in Germany to help confirm the war was over.

Always interested in chemistry, maybe even causing an explosion or two in the family attic, it was no surprise that Norm attended Penn State University and graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. He was a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and stayed involved as an Alumni for many years.

After college he landed at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in Brooklyn, New York where he met his first wife, June. Norman and June soon relocated to Indianapolis when he was hired at Eli Lilly and Company where he worked for 33 years, retiring as Director of Corporate Engineering and Facilities Planning in 1989. Norman and June had two daughters Jill and April and were married for 26 years before June’s death in 1981.

During their marriage June encouraged Norman to join her in learning the sport of golf. Taking up this sport became a beloved pastime. He loved to watch and play golf, often visiting the courses they saw in tournaments on TV. Norman was a member of several different golf courses in the Indianapolis and Naples, Florida areas. Norman was also a Indy sports fan attending Pacers and Colts games frequently.

Norman found love again with his second wife Joan after being “fixed up” by his secretary at Lilly. They married in 1986 and he gained two step children Sherri and Steven with whom he was very close.

Norman and Joan loved to travel and went on several cruises. They enjoyed building and decorating homes. They lived in several communities in Indianapolis, Fishers and Naples, Florida, creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes and gardens. Both were pet lovers and had two dogs Brandi, a lovable golden retriever and most recently Molly, a precocious Wheaton Terrier. Norman and his grand dog Yoshi were best buds and would be inseparable during visits.

Norman and Joan were members of the Methodist church being members of St. Lukes Methodist and Fishers UMC. The couple were married for 37 years before Joan’s death in 2023.

Norman shares his birthday with an important Icon - Mickey Mouse- both born on the same day in 1928.

Norman is survived by his two daughters, Jill Hittinger (Paul Thompson) and April Hartsock, two step children Sherri Crawford (Greg) and Steven Colbert (Cathy); grandchildren Erin Lahr (Justin), James Colbert, Scott Hittinger (Anna), Braden Crawford, Gabrielle Crawford, Lauren Davis (Kevin), Carly Seiler (Nathan); and great grandchildren Alyra, Sawyer, and Vienna Lahr, (James) Finn, (Andrew)Hudson, Everly and William Wells Hittinger, Louis and Henry Seiler.

Visitation will be Monday March 23, 2026 from 1 -2:30 p.m. with funeral services immediately after at 2:30 p.m. at Flanner Buchanan - Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Indianapolis 9700 N. Allisonville Road in the Conner Suite. Burial will take place at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.