John "Jay" W. Hartl II

John (Jay) Hartl II, Devils Lake, ND, died suddenly and unexpectedly Friday, December 10, 2021.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Devils Lake with with Reverend Steven Wirth celebrating the Mass. Burial and Military Honors will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery.   Visitation will be Thursday evening at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Michael, ND, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.  A rosary service with Father Schuster officiating will be held at 7:00 p.m.  There will be a time of sharing memories after the rosary service.  Music will be provided by Josiah and McKenzie Negron and Rita Thompson Halvorson and Rhonda Thompson Gilpatrick.  Casket bearers will be Dallas Shipley, Joe Thomas, Fields Olson, Luke Malheim, Jacob Danduran, and Mark Steinberg.

Jay was born at the Towner County Memorial Hospital in Cando, ND to William Hartl and Judy Erickson Hartl Barstad.  He was raised in the Dunseith, Devils Lake and Minnewaukan areas.  He graduated from Minnewaukan High School in 1988.  Jay attended Lake Region State College and successfully completed many military courses.  Jay joined the North Dakota National Guard in 1987 and proudly served his country for over thirty-three years.  Jay received the Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional service to the NDANG, culminating as the 131^st Military Police Battalion Operations Noncommissioned Officer.  During his career Jay deployed to Kuwait in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm and to Kosovo in support of Kosovo Force 12.  He completed six overseas training exercises and four state emergency operations.  He managed a dynamic mystery event at the 2020 state Best Warrior Competition which consisted of reassembling the M4, M9, and M249 weapon systems utilizing night vision devices in a time constrained environment.  He played a pivotal role during the transition of the 136^th Combat Service Support Battalion to the 131^st Military Police Battalion where he mentored and trained seven readiness and training noncommissioned officers.  Jay’s accomplishments throughout his distinguished career are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 131^st Military Police Battalion, the North Dakota Army National Guard, and the United States Army.

Jay and Kristi Nelson were married September 12, 1992, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.  The things Jay most treasured were the love of his life Kristi and his pride and joys McKenzie, Colton, and grandchildren Selah, Moses, Za’Hari and Gianni.  Jay had many passions in life, and none were greater than his family, his service to his country and community, and mentoring and supporting his nieces and nephews and colleagues.

Jay was an avid fisherman and loved hiking, running, fitness training and the time he spent at his lake home.  Jay was baptized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cando, ND, confirmed in the Presbyterian faith in Minnewaukan, and was a confirmed member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  Jay was a role model, confidant, mentor and leader and touched the lives of so many with his kindness, consideration and caring.

Surviving are his wife Kristi, his daughter, McKenzie (Josiah) Negron; Colton (Annie) Hartl; mother and father Judy and Colin (Coby) Barstad and Bill and Sharon Hartl; mother-in-law and father-in-law Bernadine and Duane Nelson; sisters DeShawn Tofsrud (Ryan Thompson); Sherry (Branon) Dyke, Jennifer (Dan) Tostenson; brother Myron (Stacy) Bjornstad; sisters-in-law Joan (Terry) Belgarde, Gail (Randy) Severinson, Mary (Jim) Langley, Karla (Kelvin) Mack, Kim (Dave) Brown; brothers-in-law Allan (Marla) Nelson, and Kevin (Janet) Nelson, along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jay was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Allan Tofsrud, sister-in-law Jackie Nelson; grandparents, Ella (Victor) Straabe, Joe (Elsie) Hartl, and Edwin (Martha) Frederick.

Jay’s family thanks you with all our hearts for the many acts of kindness and prayerful support during this very difficult time.  Your continued prayers of comfort are most welcome as we adjust to life without Jay.

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