HARTUNG, William John “Bill” 1930-2009

HARTUNG, BOHLIG

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/25/2009 at 21:33:56

William “Bill” Hartung, age 78 of Rock Rapids, Iowa died Thursday morning, May 14, 2009, at Sanford Hospital at Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral services were held Saturday May 16th at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids with burial in Riverview Cemetery at Rock Rapids.

William John Hartung was born August 5, 1930 in Wisner, Nebraska, the son of Arthur Edmund and Sybilla Barbara (Bohlig) Hartung. Early on Bill and his family moved to a farm near Alvord, Iowa, where he attended country school. As a teenager Bill and his family moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa where he graduated from Wilson High School in 1948. Bill entered the U.S. Navy in 1948. He served in the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Fleet as a member of the Coral Sea Ship Band. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on July 9, 1952. Bill continued his education at the University of Minnesota from which he graduated in 1959 with a Masters Degree in Hospital Administration. While Bill was a full time student, he worked 40 hours a week in various departments of the University Hospital. On July 1, 1958 he accepted his one year residency at Highland Hospital in Rochester, New York. The following year he accepted the Assistant Administrator position and eventually became head administrator for that hospital.

While living in New York Bill was very active with many organizations, such as Sigma Nu Fraternity, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, American College of Hospital Administrators, American Hospital Association and New York Hospital Association. He also served as secretary of Rochester Regional Administrators Conference, was a board member of Aid To Hospital, Inc, chairman of Linen Standardization Committee, Memorial Art Gallery Association, the Rochester Civic Music Association and also a member of the St. John’s Church of Perinton, where he was active in the choir. In the 1980’s Bill co-owned and operated Evan & Hartung Fine Jewelry, Inc. The business caused him or gave him the opportunity to travel all over the world including various countries in Europe, Mexico, Russia, Asia and Jordan to buy gems and stones.

Through the many experiences Bill had in life, he was able to become friends with Dr. W.F. Bernhard of Africa, who performed the first artificial heart transplant. In the 90’s Bill returned to Rock Rapids, Iowa. There he lived with his sister, Margaret and cared for her until her death in 2004. Due to Bill’s failing health he entered the Rock Rapids Health Centre October 24, 2006. This past Thursday, May 14, 2009, he died at the Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, Iowa, at the age of 78.

Bill is survived by many friends and colleagues, both in Rock Rapids and through out the United States. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Sybilla Hartung; two sisters, Charlotte Hartung and Margaret Witt; and one brother, Arthur Hartung.

(Jurrens Funeral Home obituary)