Dale Louis Hartig

DALE LOUIS HARTIG

LT. COL. U.S. ARMY (RET)

Dale Louis Hartig, 89, a resident of Bowie, MD since 1973, passed away on August 31, 2024. Born on June 28, 1935, in St. Louis, MO, he was the eldest child of Clarence and Mary, and brother of Donald, Glen, and Linda. 

Dale was a graduate of Cleveland High School in St. Louis, MO (1953) and was a proud alumnus of Westminster College in Fulton, MO (1957) where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Dale married his college sweetheart, Janice Marie Saxon of Oklahoma City, OK, on June 15, 1957. They have three sons: Louis (Denise), Michael (Mary), and Robert. They have three grandchildren by Michael and Mary: Stephen, Sean (Emily), and Mary Kate. With the marriage of Louis to Denise, two grandsons—William (Samantha) and Joseph—and three great-grandchildren—Emma, Owen, and Eric—were welcomed to the family.

Initially commissioned in the Field Artillery, Dale was stationed at Fort Sill, OK; Fort Riley, KS (1st Infantry Division); Germany (1st Missile Battalion (Honest John), 41st Artillery); Fort Hood, TX; Seoul, Korea (Eighth Army Headquarters); and Manchester, NH (where he was commander of Army Recruiting for Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont). He was then transferred to Military Intelligence and attended the Army Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, MD. From there, he was assigned to Headquarters Pacific Command in Hawaii. After Hawaii, he went to Vietnam, where he was on the staff of Headquarters II Field Force. He then attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His next assignment was to Headquarters Army Intelligence Command at Fort Holabird, MD, followed by serving as Deputy Commander of the 902nd Military Intelligence Group. In August 1975, he was assigned to the Defense Investigative Service in Washington, DC. He retired from the military on April 30, 1981, and was immediately hired by the Defense Investigative Service as Director of Public and Congressional Affairs, a position he held until he fully retired on January 2, 1998. 

Dale and Jan were active in the Central Maryland Unit of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, where he twice served as president. They also belonged to the Maryland Travel Trailer Club, where Dale again served as president for two terms. Dale particularly loved going to the Piney Mountain Campground in Pennsylvania. Traveling in his Airstream trailer, especially with his grandchildren, was a highlight of his life. He served as Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 1688 in Bowie and served as a volunteer librarian at the Bowie Senior Center. He was a 50-year Master Mason, 50-year 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.

His passing culminated 67 years of marriage to Jan. 

Family and friends are welcome to attend the viewing at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 Crain Hwy, Bowie, MD on Sunday, September 29, from 12 to 1 p.m. A memorial service will follow from 1 to 2 p.m. Dale will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors, date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, Dale requested memorial contributions be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) and Shriners Children’s (lovetotherescue.org).