Hartwig, Bessie Jane

Bessie Jane Hartwig, 82, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha. Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. Pastor Sean Hansen will officiate at the service. Visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Burial will be at the Olin Cemetery in Olin.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving is her husband, William; five children, Jane Shaw of Lisbon, Allen Hartwig of Murrieta, Calif., Paula Martin of Cedar Rapids, Steven (Diane) Hartwig of Marion and Gary (Cathi) Hartwig of Napa, Calif.; two brothers, Rhinehart Topping of Anamosa and Edwin Topping of Hiawatha; three sisters, June Ulferts of Anamosa, Erna Young of Lebanon, Mo. and Zelda Sonders of Las Vegas, Nev.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Bionda Boots; a daughter-in-law, Josefina; and two sisters-in-law.

Bessie Jane Hartwig was born Jan. 5, 1931, in Amber, Iowa. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Schoon Topping. On April 18, 1948, Bessie and William P. Hartwig Jr. were united in marriage the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa. Bessie worked as a line inspector at Rockwell Collins for 19 years. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon, a member of the church choir in BC Nevada as well as a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed crocheting and cooking and helped on the farm for many years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and will be missed dearly by those closest to her.

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 30, 2013.