BOONE, Iowa—Tim Hartwig passed away peacefully at home, in the company of his family, on December 14, 2024, at the age of 79. Cancer struck rapidly and claimed him too soon. Tim was born in Garner, Iowa, to Robert and Wanda (Johnson) Hartwig shortly after Robert returned from serving in the US Navy in WW II. At the age of 8, Tim met his future wife and love, Janice (Greiman) Hartwig, on the playground of Garner Elementary School. Tim enjoyed an adventurous life in 1950s small-town Iowa and loved telling stories about the mischief he got into with his friends and brothers.
After graduating from Garner-Hayfield High School in 1963, he started college and married his sweetheart, Jan, on December 23, 1966. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa in 1968, with a double major in Industrial Technology Education and Social Studies. He began teaching in Cedar Falls at Holmes Junior High School in 1968 and coached junior high football and track. During this time, Tim and Jan welcomed children Andy and Amy into their lives. In 1978, the family moved to Boone, Iowa, where he taught and coached for over twenty additional years. Tim was proud to have earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Viterbo University.
After retiring, they moved to Ankeny, Iowa, and were fortunate to travel the world to a far greater extent than they had ever dreamed possible. They also revisited a dream they had during the 1960s: in 2009, they committed to two years teaching English to Chinese college students in Lanzhou, China, through the Peace Corps. This was a great source of pride for Tim and Jan, not to mention stories about new and exciting foods. Tim loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, playing cards, going to dinner with long-time teaching friends, and enjoying prairie walks with his wife.
Tim is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Jan; son, Andy (Celine) Hartwig of Iowa City, IA; daughter, Amy (Brad) Peterson of Ankeny, IA; grandchildren: Emma Hartwig, Drew Hartwig, Tim Peterson, and Tyler Peterson; brothers, Tom (Laura) Hartwig of Garner, IA, and Ted (Cathy) Hartwig of Eden Prairie, MN; and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family.
Please do not send flowers or plants, but consider a donation to the Boone Hope Foundation (www.boonehope.org). This organization provides a number of resources for families of school children in Boone who are in need of assistance.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Boone, with Pastor John Pea officiating. Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be before the service from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.schroederfuneral.com
Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 7th Street, Boone, Iowa is assisting the family with these arrangements.
Tim Hartwig, 79, Ankeny, Iowa
