Hartley, Peter W. 'Pete' 1919-2007

HARTLEY, MEYER, MOEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/16/2007 at 18:30:28

Peter "Pete" Hartley

Peter "Pete" William Hartley, age 87, of New Albin died Sunday, August 26, 2007 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, September 1 at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in New Albin, officiated by Father Daniel Knipper. Burial was in the New Albin Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Casketbearers were James Hartley, Patrick Hartley, Nicholas Hartley, John C. Hartley, Jan Sires and Ray Whalen.

Funeral preparations were by Thornburg Hanson Funeral Home in Lansing. Memorials may be given to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Albin.

Pete was born October 10, 1919 to the late Charles and Stacia Hartley at their home in New Albin.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy prior to the start of World War II and survived the sinking of the heavy cruiser USS Chicago in the battle of Guadalcanal in the Coral Sea. He served in various naval combat operations in the Pacific theater throughout the War. He left the Navy with the rank of Quartermaster Chief Petty Officer at the end of hostilities. He was a lifetime member of the New Albin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and of the La Crosse American Legion.

Pete married Dolores Meyer in 1943 (during World War II) in Long Beach, CA. During their retirement years they spent winters in Arizona and summers in Iowa.

Pete owned and operated the IGA grocery store in New Albin and was a 4th Degree Grand Knight of Columbus. He served as New Albin City Clerk and Fire Chief in the New Albin Volunteer Fire Department. Pete was an avid square dancer, reader and golfer and enjoyed small game hunting in the area.

His wife, Dolores, and his parents preceded Pete in death. He is survived by the immediate family, including a brother, John (Marie) Hartley of Montgomery, MN; a sister, Betty (Jack) Moen of Travers City, MI; and sons Patrick (Michele) Hartley of Portage, WI, Michael (Mary Ann) of La Crosse, WI, and Daniel (Sally) of Salix.

He is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Dr. Kristen Hartley of Mill Valley, CA, Erin (Dr. Joseph) Arndt of Appleton, WI, Sarah Hartley of Minneapolis, MN, James Hartley of Wildwood, GA, Nicholas Hartley of Saint Paul, MN, and Patrick Hartley of Salix. Pete's great-grandchildren include Zachary, Joshua, Eliana and Noah Arndt of Appleton, WI.

"In the end there are three things that last...faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love."

The Waukon Standard, September 6, 2007