Gail Hartung

Gail MaxineHartung died Monday, April 9, 2007, in Brainerd, Minnesota. Maxine was born on March 11, 1917 to Belle and Chester Gifford in Altoona, Iowa. She graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1934 and completed a two year teaching certificate from Drake University in 1936, returning to Drake University to complete a BA (1958) and Masters in Education in 1967. After graduating from the two year teaching program, Maxine taught in Treynor and Greenfield, Iowa, before marrying the love of her life, John H. Hartung, in Omaha on December 23, 1939. The couple began their married life on the family farm near Des Moines and lived in or near the city until their late retirement years when they moved to the family lake home on Big Trout Lake near the village of Crosslake, Minnesota. During the early 40s Maxine gave birth to sons, John and Michael. In 1945 she resumed her teaching career in Ankeny. In 1953 she began teaching in the Des Moines Public Schools and served as a classroom teacher, television teacher, administrator and school social worker in the system until her retirement in 1983. During her years of service as a professional educator, Maxine received numerous honors and served with distinction on a number of boards and commissions.
Maxine enjoyed reading, travel, visiting with her friends and family and she loved to teach and help others experience the joy of learning. She learned to drive at an early age and during her sighted years she and John particularly enjoyed the opportunities to travel to visit children, grandchildren, other family members and friends across the country. Maxine was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-three years, John H. Hartung, her parents, and brother, Paul Gifford of Tama, Iowa. She is survived by her children John V. (Joan) of Indianola and Michael P. (Frances) of Crosslake, Minnesota, grandchildren Jill Hartung, Des Moines, J. D. (Nichole) Hartung, Altoona, Jeff (Pam) Hartung, Indianola, Michael Hartung, Oxnard, California, Elizabeth Hartung, and Mathew Hartung, San Diego, California, and six great-grandchildren. A service celebrating Maxine's life and memory will be held at the Woodland Good Samaritan Village Chapel on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to Camp Knutson, Crosslake, Minnesota. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.