Hartwig, David E.

David E. Hartwig, 92, longtime resident and businessman of Iowa City, died Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at Mercy Iowa City. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect.). Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service.

Memorial donations can be made in Dave's memory to Mercy Hospital Foundation, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center via University of Iowa Foundation or to wherever donor wishes.

Online condolences for his family may be sent through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

David Evans Hartwig was born March 25, 1921, in Clutier, Iowa, the son of Henry and Agnes (Kokesh) Hartwig. His father went into the automobile business in 1912, when before you could sell a person the car, you had to teach them how to drive! Dave knew from early on that this was the life for him. He spent his youth working around the garage and playing basketball - he loved playing basketball. Following graduation from Clutier High School in 1938, he continued to work with his father until enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps in September 1942. He served during World War II and was honorably discharged in October 1945. Returning to Clutier he became partners with his brother, Marvin, in running the family automobile business known as Hartwig Auto Co. During this time he was united in marriage on June 1, 1948, to Wyonna M. Collins from nearby Elberon.

Dave's growing family soon encouraged him to take advantage of other opportunities in the automobile business which took him and his family to Vinton, Iowa and Omaha, Neb., where he was a district manager for Chrysler Corporation. Realizing the corporate life was not well suited for a family man he became sales manager at a Chrysler dealership in Findlay, Ohio.

Never losing sight of his dream of owning and running a dealership in a growing and prosperous community, in the spring of 1961, he and his brother, Marv, had the opportunity to purchase Eden Motors, a Dodge dealership in Iowa City from Clayton Eden.

Hartwig Motors Inc. officially opened June 1, 1961. In 1979, Dave and his sons become sole owners of the dealership and for nearly 50 years, Hartwig Motors Inc. has been an Iowa City landmark, their family selling and servicing thousands of cars while taking care of the customer one at a time.

Dave has always been one to give back to the community. His active involvement locally included First United Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce (served as president), Kiwanis, United Way, University of Iowa Foundation, Mercy Foundation, Oaknoll Retirement Residence, Hillcrest Family Services and the former Hawkeye State Bank.

Dave also served the automobile industry by election to seats with the Chrysler Dealer Council, National Automobile Dealers Association and the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association.

His family includes his wife, Wyonna; four sons and their wives, Kevin and Anita Hartwig, Randall and Jan Hartwig, Gregg and Angie Hartwig, all of Iowa City, and Marc and Sharon Hartwig of Cave Creek, Ariz.; six grandchildren, Kory Hartwig, Kerri Hartwig, Nicholas Hartwig, Alison Hartwig, Hannah Gerard and Adam Gerard; and Dave's sister-in-law, Sally Mathis Hartwig of Iowa City.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Evelyn Hartwig Stejskal and her husband, Jerry; and Dave's brother, Marvin Hartwig and his wife, Verna Mae.

Published Oct. 6, 2013 in The Gazette