Esther (Beneke) Hartley - 1917-2001

BENEKE, KOENIG, HARTLEY, WEBER, FRUECHTE, ASHBACHER, WUENNECKE

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 6/23/2011 at 22:37:58

SOURCE: Waukon, Iowa WAUKON STANDARD, August 15, 2001
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Esther L. Hartley, age 84, of Waukon, Iowa died Wednesday, August 8, 2001 at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, following a brief illness. Funeral services were held Friday, August 10 at 11 a.m. in Waukon, Iowa with the Rev. Larry Olson officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home assisted the family in funeral arrangements. Casket bearers were Dave, George Jr., Mike, Grant, Steven, Brandon, and Brian Hartley. Honorary casket bearers were Rick and Erik Peterson and Joe Steihl.

Esther Lydia was born February 25, 1917 on her parents farm in Union City Township, rural New Albin, Iowa to Henry and Caroline (Koenig) Beneke. She was baptized and confirmed at Wheatland Church, rural New Albin, Iowa and attended rural Wheatland Elementary School. She later received her GED at Calmar, Iowa in 1976. On September 8, 1937 Esther married Grant Hartley at Wheatland Church in rural New Albin, Iowa. Esther and Grant farmed in Union City Township until 1960 when they moved to Waukon, Iowa. After the move to Waukon, Esther worked at the JC Penney's Store in Waukon for several years.

She was a member of Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church before moving to Waukon. Since her move she had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon. She was also a member of the VFW auxiliary. Esther enjoyed reading, playing Bingo, doing crossword puzzles, and sewing. She also enjoyed playing the organ and listening to music, visiting and spending time with family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Grant who died September 1, 1978, and 1 sister, Lydia Weber.

Survivors include 3 sons, John (Ruth) Hartley of Postville, Iowa, George (Julaine) Hartley of Platteville, Wisconsin, and Glenn (Barb) Hartley of Merrill, Wisconsin; 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Alvina Fruechte, and Irma Ashbacher, both of Caledonia, Minnesota and Dorothy (Armin) Wuennecke of Waukon, Iowa, and 1 brother, Henry (Tillie) Beneke of Waukon, Iowa.