Albert Adolph Charles Hartnagel III

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Albert “Al” A. Hartnagel passed away peacefully at the age of 87. Al was born on July 26, 1936, to Wilmer and Emma (Rischar) Hartnagel in Belleville, Il. The oldest of three boys, Al attended McBride High School. He met his future bride, Barbara “Barb” Rose Kaiser, when she was a freshman at St. Marks High School. They wed on August 9, 1958, and welcomed their first son, Mark, the following year. In 1964, Al opened “Al’s Standard Service,” a station in Florissant, Mo, which he sold in 1975. He was a mechanic who naturally excelled at sales due to his breadth of knowledge and affable personality. 

In 1974, Al and Barb moved with their three children – Donna and Bryan joined Mark in 1961 and 1966, respectively — to a 60-acre farm in Marthasville, Mo. The farm had a house and barns. They added log cabins, cows, chickens, dogs, and cats. There they raised their family and in 1979, Al bought an Amoco Station in Warrenton, Mo. In 1991, Al sold the station and in 1995, he retired at the age of 59. In 2005, Al and Barb moved from the farm to Defiance, Mo. And since 2023, they’ve resided at the Boulevard Senior Living of St. Charles. They were members of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in New Melle, Mo. Al was an avid collector of old Ford cars and an active member of the V8 Ford Club. He was happiest when he was restoring vehicles, woodworking or generally piddling around in his workshops. Al and Barb loved traveling. They visited England, France, Italy and Greece, among others. 

In retirement, Al and his fellow R.O.M.E.O.s – Retired Old Men Eating Out – had a standing lunch date at their local Steak ‘n Shake. He was a jokester who loved to make others smile. His family and friends will remember the passionate, generous, and charming man they knew and loved. He and Barb celebrated their 65^th wedding anniversary this summer. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wilmer and Emma, and his brothers, Curt Hartnagel and Denis Hartnagel. He is survived by his children, Mark Hartnagel, Donna (Jeffrey) Bunge, Bryan (Susan) Hartnagel; his grandchildren, Julie (Ben) Whitsitt, Amy Bunge, Kaitlyn Hartnagel, Brooke Hartnagel; and his great-grandchild, Lydia Whitsitt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Al's honor to American Cancer Society.