Arlene Hartwick
Arlene W. Hartwick, 103, of Springfield, died on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield.
Visitation will be on Thursday, May 24, from 9:00 am to 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at St. John Lutheran Home, and it will be followed by the funeral service at 10:00. Chaplain Noel Wetter will officiate at the service. Interment will be in the Springfield City Cemetery.
Arlene, daughter of Michael and Rose (Becker) Wagner, was born on May 6, 1915, in Stately Township, Brown County, Minnesota, and grew up on the family farm near Sanborn. She went to country school (sometimes by horse and sleigh), and then Sanborn Public School through the eighth-grade. After graduating from Springfield High School in 1932, she attended the University of Minnesota, attaining an
Associate of Arts Degree in 1935. She married Lowell Hartwick in 1936, and they had three daughters, Judy, Sharon and Pam.
In the early 1940s, Arlene started working at the Springfield Public Library, as a volunteer and part-time librarian, and retired more than 50 years later as the library director at the age of 81. She often said of her time as the librarian: “I had the best job in the world.”
The highlight of her career was the gift of more than a million dollars that was bequeathed to the Springfield Public Library from the Charles and Ethel Altermatt estate in 1989. In part, her friendship with the Altermatt family resulted in the generous gift and a new library building that has benefitted the entire community.
Arlene enjoyed playing bridge and cards of all kinds, fishing, golfing and painting. She was a member of the Springfield Historical Society and past president of the American Legion Auxiliary.
She attributed her longevity to many things, including living in a small town, enjoying family and friends — and making new friends, eating well, playing bridge (until her 100th year), reading lots of books, and never retiring from staying involved in life.
Arlene was witness to many important events during her lifetime, from accompanying her mother to vote in the 1920 presidential election, after women gained the right to vote, to the travails of the depression and World War II, and her husband returning safely from serving in Okinawa, to embracing the modern age and even learning to use a computer.
She was a charter member at Riverview Homestead Cooperative and lived there independently for 20 years before moving to St. John’s Circle of Care in 2016.
Her husband Lowell, daughter Pam; and brothers Greg, Gilbert and Archibald Wagner preceded Arlene in death.
She is survived by her daughters, Judy (and the late Larry) Essen of New Ulm, Sharon (Tony) Antonios of Kent, Connecticut; two grandchildren, Jayne (Chris) Jensen of New Ulm, and Jon (Stacey) Essen of Minneapolis; five great-grandchildren, Catherine and Peter Jensen, and Emily, Sam and Erik Essen, along with many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Memorials can be given to the donors’ choice.