Stephen Hartzell

Stephen Duane Hartzell, of Slippery Rock, went to be with his Lord on Aug. 14, 2021, his 72nd birthday.

Steve was born Aug. 14, 1949, in New Castle, to Duane and Leah Studebaker Hartzell.

He was a 1968 graduate of Slippery Rock High School.

He was a lifelong dairy farmer at Hartzell Farm, where he worked alongside his father, brother and nephew. After his retirement, he continued to help on the farm with mixing feed, truck driving during harvest and hauling cattle. He was known to be a passionate worker with a gentle spirit.

Steve loved life on the farm with his beloved border collie, and spending time with family. He had a gift for making others laugh. Every year he looked forward to driving his Oliver 880 tractor in the Harrisville Fourth of July parade.

He was an avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan. He enjoyed visiting friends and family and traveling to Florida. He was a member of the Center Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include his three sisters, Dana Campbell and her husband, David, of Sarasota, Fla., Barbara Keen and her husband, Jere, of Lancaster, and Marsha Repka and her husband, David, of Castro Valley, Calif.; a brother, George Hartzell and his wife, Kathy, of Slippery Rock; seven nieces and nephews, Curran (Grace Kang) of Jacksonville, Fla., Ben (Tammy Lim) Campbell of California, Karen (Ronan) Conway of London, U.K., Max (Kate) Repka of Castro Valley, Calif., Janelle (James) Hoffman and Daniel (Alyssa) Hartzell of Slippery Rock, and Michelle Hartzell of Morgantown, W.Va.; and his great-nieces and great-nephews, Alexander and Ivan Conway, June Repka, Matthew, Andrew and Ethan Hoffman, and Adeline Hartzell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his nephew, Samuel Keen.

HARTZELL — The family of Stephen Duane Hartzell, who died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, at the funeral home, with the Rev. William Mumaw, pastor of Center Presbyterian Church, presiding.

Interment will be in Slippery Rock Cemetery.

Memorial gifts can be given to Center Presbyterian Church, 211 Center Street, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; or Slippery Rock VFC and Rescue, 162 Elm Street, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; or Butler County Farm Bureau, 905 Seven Hills Road, Chicora, PA 16025.