John E. Hartman

John Everett Hartman, 79, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Western Home – Deery Suites on Wednesday, August 21st, 2024. John was born on March 30th, 1945, in West Bend, Iowa to parents Ted and Violet (Carpenter) Hartman. He grew up on his family’s farm near Rodman, IA. He proudly attended St. Peter and Paul School in West Bend for 1st through 8th grade, attended school in Rodman, IA for kindergarten, 9th and 10th grade, and graduated in 1963 from Mallard High School, where he met the love of his life, Jane Ann Wirtz. John and Jane were married on September 3rd, 1966, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mallard, Iowa. John attended State College of Iowa as a Science Education major and was part of the first graduating class of the newly renamed University of Northern Iowa in August 1967. Soon enough, John was lovingly known to his students as Mr. Hartman. He taught science at Parkersburg and Hudson, Iowa, before cementing his place at Peet Junior High in Cedar Falls, where he taught science for 35 years. While at Peet, he was also known as Coach Hartman. He coached football, basketball, and was the first girls track and field coach at Peet Jr. High. Outside of school, many students fondly remember Mr. Hartman leading them on summer trips to the boundary waters, Colorado, and St. Louis. Maybe not so fondly remembered, for 17 hot summers, John led groups of students to detassel corn! John was an active member of the Cedar Falls Education Association, served on St. Patrick’s and Waterloo Columbus School Boards, UNI Museum Board of Directors, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, and was a founding member and first president of the Cedar Falls Pickleball Club. In retirement, John and Jane wintered in Arizona where they enjoyed socializing and made many new friends. A lover of the great outdoors, you would often find John camping, hiking, hunting, or canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and biking during RAGBRAI. All of this was usually done alongside his family and friends. John was a dedicated fan of the UNI Panthers and St. Louis Cardinals. He was known to many as being willing to lend a helping hand, greeting everyone with a big smile, and his immense love for his family. John was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in 2021. He was inspirational in the positive manner that he faced this disease. He faced this disease as he met all things in life with his strong Christian faith guiding him. As the disease progressed his love for his family and his faith in Christ only grew larger. He was involved in a study through the Mayo Clinic and donated his brain tissue for further research. John will forever be remembered by his wife, Jane; sons, Jeff (Jennifer) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jason of Eugene, Oregon, and Justin (Amy) of Urbandale, Iowa; six grandchildren: Savannah (Andrew), Jacob (Payton), Luke, Amaya, Asher John, Andrew, along with great grandson, Theodore Everett; brothers Melvin (Muffy) Hartman of Florida, Dwayne (Mary) Hartman of Pocahontas Iowa, and sister in laws Margaret Hartman of West Bend, Iowa and Donna Wirtz of Emmetsburg Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Violet Hartman; brother, Bernard; sister, Marlene, brother-in-law, Jerry; niece, Joan Hartman; parents-in-law Fred and Dolly Wirtz, in-laws, Jean and Roy Reeves, Al and Eileen Wirtz, Mary and Duane Hanson, Jim Wirtz; and his beloved cat, Mugsy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity (attn. Ali Parrish, 803 W 5th St, Waterloo, IA 50702), Cedar Falls Schools Foundation (602 Main St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613), and Cedar Valley Hospice (900 Tower Park Dr, P.O. Box 2880, Waterloo, IA 50704). Memorial Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where there will be 6:30 prayer followed by a time of sharing.

John E. Hartman

March 30, 1945 - August 21, 2024