Obituary of Elfriede M. Hartwig , 76

Elfriede M. Hartwig, 76, of State College, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at home after a relatively short illness with lung cancer.

She was born in Schwabisch Hall, Germany on March 5, 1933, to Karl Georg and Lina Marie Dietz of Bauersbach, Germany. She grew up on a farm in the 1930s and 1940s when much of the farm work was still done by hand and the whole family helped do the farm work when necessary. Their lives were interrupted by World War II, and one month before the war was over in May, 1945, she had her first contact with the American Army, when several soldiers came down the wine cellar steps with rifles at the ready to find only the family hiding there. The soldiers gave the kids Hershey candy bars but they also used their house as a command post for several days while the family lived in the basement.

She met and fell in love with a different American soldier in 1962, Nathan L. Hartwig, who survives at home. They were married Aug. 3, 1963, and moved to the United States in 1964 when her husband started graduate school. She was a true and loving wife, mother and grandmother to her husband, daughter and grandchildren. Elfriede's life was devoted to her home and family who will miss her dearly.

She became a U.S. citizen in 1980 for which she was very proud. She has been a member of Mount Nittany United Methodist Church since the family moved to State College in 1969. Elfriede was an excellent cook and she put her talents to work cooking for her husband's weed field days as well as football suppers, wedding receptions and occasionally special lunches at the church.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter Susan and her husband, Will Santos; grandchildren William and Jasmine Santos, all of State College; one sister Lieselotte and her husband, Fritz Knšll, and a niece, Isa Megerle, all of Germany. She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant grandson, Luis Santos.

Visitation with be from 6-8 p.m. today, Dec. 27, 2009, at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at Mount Nittany United Methodist Church,1500 E. Branch Road in State College, with the Rev. Howard Woodruff officiating, followed by burial at Pine Hall Cemetery.

Everyone is invited to a funeral dinner at 12:30 p.m. at the church following burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Nittany United Methodist Church, 1500 E. Branch Road, State College, PA 16801.