Eugene Lawrence Hartwig

Eugene (Gene) Hartwig of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, age 89, died peacefully on January 11, 2023 after an extended struggle with Dementia. Distinguished attorney whose loves included his wife and family, the Law, Christ Church Cranbrook, The University of Michigan, the arts and classical civilization. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Donna (nee Netzer), as well as their three children, their spouses, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Cathy and Rob Stiteler of Auburn Hills (Stephen and son Coil, Allison and Kurt Rosenberg and son Austin, Sarah and Thomas Miesen, and Matthew, deceased), Charles and Claudia Hartwig of Glendale, California (Erin and Kathleen), David and Karin Hartwig of Lake Orion (Rebecca and Owen). He also leaves his brother Ron and Robert Pierce of Vero Beach, Florida, and brother Alan of Cleveland, Ohio and his family, and other brothers and sisters-in law, nieces and nephews of a wonderful extended family.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, the first born child of Lawrence and Helen Hartwig. Gene grew-up and attended school in Cleveland prior to enrolling in the University of Michigan in 1952. As an undergraduate, Gene was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, a member of the junior men's honorary Shinx, and of the senior men's honorary, The Tribe of Michigauma, and served as Managing Editor of The Michigan Daily student newspaper his senior year.
Gene received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1958. He joined the General Motors Corporation Legal Staff in Detroit that same year, where he became a specialist in labor and employment law. In 1984 he was elected chairman of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the American Bar Association. He enjoyed a successful 30-year career at General Motors, rising to the rank of Vice President and Associate General Counsel, before retiring in 1988. He then joined the Detroit law firm of Butzel Long as Of Counsel, and became Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Kelly Services in 1990, before returning to Butzel Long as Of Counsel in 1998 and retiring from The Law in 2006.
Hartwig served on the Boards of Directors of the Michigan Opera Theatre, DSO, the Birmingham Community House and Common Ground. He was also a member of the Birmingham Senior Men's Club and Bloomfield Hills Country Club.
He was an active member of his beloved Christ Church Cranbrook for more than fifty years, where he served as Senior Warden, legal advisor and long-time member of the usher corps.
In addition to his love for his family, Gene had an incredible zest for history, the arts and all aspects of classic culture. He had a sharp wit and sense of humor and greatly enjoyed all family and social gatherings. Gene loved travel and travelled extensively with Donna and his family, both within the U.S. and abroad. We wish him well on his final journey.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 11am at his beloved Christ Church Cranbrook (corner of Lone Pine and Cranbrook Roads, just West of Woodward Avenue). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial tributes to Alzheimer's Association, or their favorite charity.