Mary Lou (Murman) Hartman

Born on February 16, 1939, at home on the family's farm place south of Gilmore City, Iowa, to Reak and Anna (Kuhlman) Murman, Mary Lou was one of six children in her family that included three brothers (John and Arthur both deceased; and a stillborn baby brother) and two sisters (Edna Peters-Steere, deceased; and Helen Vetter of Manson). Mary Lou attended country school near Palmer, Iowa, and graduated with the Class of 1957, having the distinction of being the first class to graduate from the new addition to the school. She grew up loving to sing at church and school. She also enjoyed cheerleading for both Palmer and Manson.

Following graduation, Mary Lou married Donald E. Hartman on May 24, 1957, and the couple made their home on a farm south of Palmer where Mary Lou served her family as a "farm wife", mother and grandmother. At times she also worked as a waitress at various restaurants. Don and Mary Lou raised three children Melinda (Paul) Habben of Palmer; Dale (Kelly) Hartman of Britt; and Marlene (Gary) Nimke of Palmer. The couple celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary just nine months before Don passed away in 2008.

Mary Lou has always enjoyed bird watching and she loved to embroider and sew beautiful quilts. But her passion was collecting Precious Moments figurines, a hobby she shared with her daughters for many years. Mary Lou also helped Don collect Allis-Chalmers toy tractors and other Allis-Chalmers related items. She also enjoyed singing with the Manson Meridian Singers, and was a member of the Palmer American Legion Auxiliary. She was a great cook and baker, well-known for her homemade bread, pies, and caramel sticky rolls.

Mary Lou is survived by her three children and their spouses, as well as her grandchildren: Josh, Adam, Nick and Ben Hartman, Amanda Korte, Shalee Stuart, Spencer and Heath Nimke. Also surviving are her great grandchildren: Joe, Max and Jackson Korte, Lyla, Brooks and Blair Stuart, Jada, Kage, Knox, Makayla, Meya, Halle, Kruz, Tenley, Avery, and Dane Hartman.

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