Obituary
William “Bill” Norman Hartje
Wilbert ‘Bill’Norman Hartje, age 86, passed away on January 3, 2013, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Bill was born on March 27, 1926, on the family farm in LaValle, Wisconsin, the third of seven boys to Herman and Minnie (Lucht). After graduating from Reedsburg High School in 1944 he joined the Navy and served honorably in the Pacific theater. He married Helen Jean Decker in 1948. A son, William David, was born in 1950 and a daughter, Nancy Luann, in 1956. Bill worked as a meat cutter in LaValle, Janesville, South Beloit, Delavan, and Monroe throughout his career. Thanks to his union wages he was able to put both children through college. After the passing of his beloved wife in 1996, he lived in LaValle near his brothers and many friends. He worked for his brothers until the summer of 2011, driving truck and mowing grass. An avid Packer fan and ardent political observer, Bill had a great sense of humor; he was quick with a quip even to the end. He deeply enjoyed birds, especially the flocks of hummingbirds at his feeders. He loved his extended family and leaves behind fond memories of Christmas gatherings with aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. He is survived by his children, William (Mary) of Evansville, and Nancy (Marty Sellers) of La Crosse, and his beloved grandchildren, Miriam Sellers and Keith Hartje, step-grandchildren Ehan and Gwen Whitney, and his brothers Virgil and Kenneth. He is preceded in death by his wife Helen, and his brothers Herbert, Reuben, Norman, and Marvin. Special thanks to Clare Bridge Memory Care in La Crosse for the loving and compassionate care he received as a resident. A memorial service will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in LaValle on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Memorials in Bill’s honor can be sent to the family, and due to his love of birds, will be donated to OSA Conservation, which works to preserve the winter home of migrating hummingbirds.
To the Hartje Family my condolences on the passing of your father Bill. I believe I went to Beloit High with Bill Jr. back in 1968. I just happened to see your dad’s obituary while viewing one of our classmates that just happened to be handled by the same service. Mike Sapp passed away with lung cancer in the VA in La Cross and the funeral is today. I have thought about you periodically over the years and wondered how you were doing. I hope this is not an inappropriate message at this time. Take Care and again my sympathy, Bill Bue