Jean D. Hangartner, age 86, of Marion passed away Monday, February 9, 2015 at Theda Clark Medical Center, Neenah.
The former Jean Doris Hopp was born on October 24, 1928 in Merrill to Paul and Alma (Oestreich) Hopp. In the mid 1940s her family moved to a farm on Elmdale Road in the Town of Bear Creek, Waupaca County. She was united in marriage on April 21, 1951 to Melvin A. Hangartner at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bear Creek. In 1951 the couple moved to a piece of land just a little northeast of Bowler. By 1960 they settled in the Marion area where they continued with dairy cows, then hogs and feeder pigs. Not only did Jean work side-by-side with her husband on the farm or out in the woods but she also helped with rebuilding electric motors in his shop. Jean is a former member of St. Martin Lutheran Church, Clintonville, and she was active with the Ladies Aid. Currently, she is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marion. Her interests included growing tons of vegetables in her gardens, canning, and cooking for her family. She enjoyed doing embroidery work and making all kinds of foods, but her apple pies, donuts, and potato pancakes were legendary. Jean also liked to go fishing and playing bingo or the slot machines at the casino. She was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother, and a proud grandmother. Jean was always there for her family and she will be remembered most for her contagious laugh that everyone around her loved.
Survivors include: her husband of 63 years, Melvin, and four children, Lyle (Jenny) Hangartner of Marion, LuAnn (Mickey) Karst of Marion, Linda (Dave) Nitz of Berlin, and LaVonne (special friend Mark Vanderlin) Burow of Neenah. There are 12 grandchildren: LaMar (Tricia) Karst, Jeremy (Vicki) Karst, Laurie Vollrath, Lisa Karst, Sarah (Rick) Kositzke, Lee (fiancée Wendy) Hangartner, Julianna Nitz, Caroline Nitz, Callie Nitz, Nichol (Jace) Peskie, Dustin (fiancée Jalisa) Burow, and Aleesha Vanderlin. There are 16 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jeanette Lasso of Racine, Betty Cordry of St. Louis, MO, and Edna (Bob) Frank of Neenah; and two brothers, Wilbert “Butch” (Kathy) Hopp of Clintonville and Lester (Wilma) Hopp of Stephensville. She is further survived by a brother-in-law, Raymond Hangartner of Bowler, a sister-in-law, Marian (Floyd) Otto of Zephyrhills, FL; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Jean is preceded in death by her parents; two grandsons, Michael Karst and Jason Nitz; a son-in-law, Thomas Burow, and a brother, Edward Hopp.
Funeral Service will be held on Friday, February 13th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marion. Rev. Bradley Dokken will officiate and burial will be in the spring at Roseland Cemetery, Marion. Friends may call on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. The Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Marion, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran – New Roof Fund. Our family wishes to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and staff at Theda Clark Medical Center, ThedaCare at Home Hospice, and Renaissance Assisted Living who took such good care of Jean. We also need to thank LaVonne and Mark for taking mom into their home which allowed Jean to keep her independence.