Dr. John Peter Hartwick

Hartwick, Dr. John Peter, M.D. Dr. John Hartwick, 72, joined his savior and his beloved wife JoAnn when he died this past Monday, November 20, 2006. He passed away suddenly and peacefully of a heart attack while delivering communion to the sick. Though his death leaves a void in his family's life, we know he finds himself in a better place. He is reunited with JoAnn Margaret Raynor, his wife of forty-seven years who passed away in 2003 after a long struggle with diabetes. John was born on November 12, 1934 in Blue Earth, Minnesota to George and Olivia (Bartel) Hartwick. From early on he was a true Renaissance man. As a youth at Blue Earth High School he lettered in many sports, excelled in academics, and tested his mettle in various clubs, even becoming an Eagle Scout. At Marquette University, he furthered his love of philosophy and religion, and was admitted to their Medical School after only three years of college. On November 24, 1955 he married JoAnn at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Waukesha. After school and marriage, he began a private practice in Milwaukee, only to be called in 1962 to serve his country as a Captain during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights movement. He had a number of interesting assignments including serving as surgeon to the federal troops that were deployed to Oxford, MS to protect James Meredith, the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi. Following his return to Wisconsin, John began a long and distinguished career at St. Joseph's and Elmbrook Hospitals in the Milwaukee area. He was a skilled general and vascular surgeon. He enjoyed a very successful partnership with Drs. Sauter and Haushalter at the Mayfair Office complex. Though he would hold many important positions and win prestigious awards, he was always most proud of his role as St. Joseph's Chief of Surgical Education. To his credit, every single resident that he trained in surgery went on to pass their surgical board exams. John's love of learning and adventure was passed onto his children during travels throughout Europe, canoeing the boundary waters, on hunting weekends at his farm or in northern Wisconsin, and during endless home remodeling projects. Even after retiring in 1990, his quest for knowledge continued as he began a new career as a hobby farmer after studying at UW-Madison's Agriculture Dept. He continued his focus on excellence in education, serving eleven years as treasurer on the Fort Atkinson School Board. Even after turning 70 years old, he began to learn piano and Spanish with his very close friend, Mary Strohbusch. John leaves behind seven children: John (Patricia), a project manager/ engineer, of Wauwatosa; Jeffrey (Susan), a radiologist, of Brookfield; Jude (Suzanne), a high school at-risk teacher, of Fort Atkinson; Jeralyn Baran (David), a lawyer, of Wilmette, Illinois; Joseph (Barbara), a manufacturing engineer, of Spring Lake Park, MN; Jacqueline Jahnke (Jeffrey), a radiologist, of Delafield; and James (Anne), a college professor, of Whitewater. John and JoAnn were very proud that each of their children had advanced degrees and made education a focal point in their lives. He was also extremely proud of his thirteen grandchildren: Ross and Nolan Hartwick; Jessica, Victoria, and Gregory Hartwick; Olivia, Samuel, Kerry, & Timothy Hartwick; Benjamin and Abigail Baran; and Christopher and Alexander Hartwick. He often traveled many miles to sporting, theatrical, and musical events (or anything else that featured his children or grandchildren, especially if free food was involved). John is also survived by three sisters, Dorothy Rutledge of Las Vegas, Nevada, Mary Monical of Pontiac, Michigan & Helen Ann Knutt of Rock Lake,North Dakota. John was preceded in death by his parents, two infant children Jane and J.M., his wife JoAnn, his two sisters Frances Cook and Margaret Ofverstedt, and his brother George. Finally, Dad was a man of integrity and conviction. His passion for life was evident in his service to God and to his fellow man. He was a dedicated volunteer, serving for years as team physician at Marquette University High School and supporting, with his time and resources, each and every catholic school and church his family attended. He was earnest in his faith. He was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. There he served as Eucharistic Minister, led Word and Communion Services, sang in the Adult Choir, was an usher, as well as was a vital member of the Vision and Liturgy committees. He was also very active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was a lifelong pro-life advocate and Ave Marie Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. On his final morning, he went to mass as he did every day, and was delivering communion to others unable to attend when he suffered a major heart attack. He would have been ecstatic to have died serving both God and man. He was a man of principle; we will miss his passion. Dad we respect and love you; say "Hi" to mom from all of us. By his own wishes, and as a sign of his dedication to both his profession and his passion for learning, John's body is being donated to the Medical College of Wisconsin. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson on Friday, Nov. 24 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to St. Joseph's Catholic Church at 1660 Endl Blvd in Fort Atkinson, WI 53538, the Catholic Relief Fund, the American Diabetes Association, or a charity of one's own choice. Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. From the Prayer of St. Thomas Merton