Joanne Hartman

ST. JOSEPH – Joanne G. Hartman, 85, of Normal died on Jan. 20, 2015, at her apartment at Evergreen Place, Normal.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, with the Rev. Mike McGaughan and the Rev. Deana Reed officiating.

Joanne was born March 13, 1929, in Glasgow, Ill., daughter of Glenn and Florence Yates Graybael, and grew up in Winchester.

She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois where she was also 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 of St. Joseph; a daughter, Jan (Deana Reed) Hartman of Napa, Calif.; two grandchildren whom she adored, Jordan and Courtney Hartman of 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.

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.

Memorials may be made to Faith in Action, the American Cancer Society or a charity of the donor's choice.

Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, is in charge of arrangements.