Joanne G. Hartman, 85, Normal died at 5:10 a.m., Tuesday (January 20, 2015) at her apartment at Evergreen Place, Normal.
Joanne was born March 13, 1929 in Glasgow, IL, daughter of Glenn and Florence Yates Graybael, and grew up in Winchester. She graduated from the University of Illinois where she was a Bronze Tablet Scholar. On Sept. 2, 1951, she married Arlin P. “A.P.” Hartman. He died in February, 2014. Her parents, and a brother, Ed Graybael, also preceded her in death.
Surviving are a son, Chuck (Lexi) Hartman, St. Joseph; a daughter, Jan (Deana Reed) Hartman, Napa, CA; two grandchildren that she adored, Jordan and Courtney Hartman, St Joseph; and several beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Joanne worked throughout her life in a variety of administrative assistant roles at the University of Illinois Athletic Association, Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign, and the ISU College of Business. The work she enjoyed most however was that of wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington.
Joanne was an avid reader who devoured newspapers, magazines, and stacks of books from the library on a weekly basis. Throughout her life, she was interested in the world around her and was conversant on a wide range of both historical and current events. She enjoyed watching sports, especially college basketball and the Chicago Bulls, and anything that her grandchildren happened to be playing.
Joanne excelled at cooking and baking, and was especially known for her pies. She was a lifelong correspondent, maintaining relationships with family and friends around the country through calls, cards, and the disappearing art of letter-writing. We will miss her happy chatter, her enjoyment of a good laugh, the twinkle in her eye, and the sweet and steady presence that she was in our lives.
The family would especially like to thank Dr. Pankaj Kumar, Nancy Erwin, and all those at the OSF Oncology Center who treated Mom’s leukemia and gave us many more months to be with her; the incredibly kind and caring staff at Evergreen Place; and our special friends, Glen and Ginny Schmidt – it truly does take a village and Mom was so grateful for all of you, as are we.
A memorial service and celebration of her life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington. Private burial was Friday, January 23, 2015 at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor’s choice. Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.
