Geraldine B. Hartwig, 94, of Concordia, MO, died Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, MO.
Geraldine was born April 26, 1931, to Lorenz F Bodenstab and Irene Hamm Bodenstab in Elmwood Township, Saline County, Missouri.
Geraldine was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs, MO on May 24, 1931, by Rev. Martin Senne. She attended Logsdon Rural School until they moved into Blackburn when she was in the fifth grade. She was confirmed at St Paul’s Evangelical Church on Easter Sunday of 1944.
In May of 1948 she graduated from Blackburn High School and then attended summer school at CMSU in Warrensburg, MO. Then at the age of 17 she began teaching at Tyree Rural School in Mayview, MO. At that time, you could begin teaching with only eight hours of college credit. She taught there for two years.
On August 13, 1950, Geraldine married Erwin J Hartwig at Salem Evangelical Church of Christ in Higginsville. They resided in Marshall, MO where she taught for two years at Thorp Rural School. In December of that year, she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church at Redeemer Lutheran Church. In 1957 the family moved to rural Sweet Springs.
In 1960 Geraldine opened a private Kindergarten where she taught for four years. In 1963 she accepted a position at Holy Cross Lutheran School where she taught for 11 years. By 1977 she had obtained her Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist. After teaching positions in Concordia and Lexington, she finished out her career in Warrensburg, MO teaching Title 1 Language Arts at Ridge View and Chapter One at Martin Warren from 1980-1993.
Geraldine’s first love was her Savior Jesus Christ, followed by her family, each and every one of them. Music was always important to her; in high school she started giving piano lessons and continued to do so until she moved into the Good Shepherd Village. Part of her service to God was playing the organ for the many churches she attended through the years. She very much enjoyed welcoming friends into her apartment for Bible studies and games. And constantly losing at Scrabble with a dear friend. And 5:30 a.m. breakfasts.
Jerry was a member of the Ladies’ Aid 3 and a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She and her husband were instrumental in founding the Veterans Walkway in Central Park.
Geraldine is survived by two sons and a daughter: Bret (Valerie) Hartwig, Sandra (Craig) Elwell and Brian (Emilie) Hartwig. She was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Hartwig; and three brothers: Robert (Dorothy) Bodenstab, Everette (Carol) Kirchhoff, and Ray Bodenstab. She is also survived by daughter-in-law, Janis Shisler and sister-in-law, Kathy Wills.
She is survived by 15 grandchildren, over 40 great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly and recognized on each birthday with a card and small gift.
Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia with Pastors Michael Pottschmidt and Andrew Lehenbauer officiating. No visitation will be held. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Grade School or Saint Paul Lutheran High School all of Concordia. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.