Lowell Hartje (1925-2009)

HARTJE

Posted By: Padriag
Date: 12/26/2010 at 11:41:59

Lowell "Gus" Hartje

Special Services: Military Honors & Interment at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery

Lowell George “Gus” Hartje was born on November 17, 1925 at the family farm near Neola, Iowa. He was one of five children of George Peter Hartje and Edna Dorothy (Guttau) Hartje. Lowell was the youngest of four brothers, including Lamar, Darrell and Waldon and a younger sister, Darlene. He was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Treynor, Iowa. Gus attended elementary school at the Washington Township Rural School across the road from the family farm and graduated from Treynor High School in 1943.

Gus was a proud veteran of World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps shortly after graduating from high school and was assigned to the 8th Air Force’s 385th Bombing Group in England. Gus was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and was awarded an air medal and oak leaf cluster.

After the war, Lowell returned home to farm with his parents. He married Vivian Ann Glebe of Dumfries, Iowa at Saint John Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs on February 19, 1947. They moved south of Minden where he farmed and lived for over 60 years. Gus and Vivian’s marriage was blessed with three sons, Jim, Tom and Ron.

Lowell was an active participant in the community and his family was active at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Treynor and in 4-H. He served as a Farm Bureau member for over six decades, a 4-H Leader for 16 years, and on the Pottawattamie County Extension Youth Committee. Gus was a board member and charter/life member of Pottawattamie County’s Westfair where he was a tireless volunteer for many years and instrumental in creating the popular Westfair Beer Garden. He was inducted into the Westfair Hall of Fame in 1995. Gus was a 60-year life member of American Legion in Minden, Iowa.

Lowell custom-built his house and established a carpenter business in Minden in partnership with Earl Bintz. After 35 years of farming and 16 years of carpentry, Gus retired. He was rarely seen without his favorite pipe and enjoyed a lifelong passion for fishing.

Gus and Vivian had been married for 37 years when Vivian died in 1984. Lowell married Audrey Sonia (Koenig) McClain on June 28, 1986 at the Methodist Church in Oakland, Iowa. Gus and Audrey made their home in the house he built on his farm south of Minden.

Lowell and Audrey had been married 23 years when Lowell died on June 3, 2009 at Oakland Manor in Oakland, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife Vivian; his parents; brothers, Lamar, Darrell, and Waldon Hartje; and daughter-in-law Linda (Killion) Hartje.

Lowell is survived by his wife Audrey Hartje of rural Oakland, IA; sons, Dr. James Hartje of Sioux City, Iowa, Tom Hartje and his wife, Annie, of Novato, California, Ron Hartje and his wife, Marian, of Laguna Beach, California; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren; sister Darlene Owens and her husband, Glenn, of Treynor; sisters-in-law, Thirza Hartje of Treynor and Eva Hartje of McClelland, Iowa; plus a multitude of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gus was a trusted friend to many, a good neighbor, and he will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Memorials suggested to:
Minden American Legion Post 437
Lamar Hartje American Legion Post 725 of Treynor St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund

Interment in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation:
Sunday, June 7, 2009
2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
Hertz Funeral Home
420 South Oak Street
Carson, IA

Service:
Monday, June 8, 2009
10:30 AM
St. Paul Lutheran Church
12 Park Street
Treynor, IA

Source: Hertz Funeral Home
112 North Vine
Glenwood, IA 51534