Carol Marie (Gerst) Hartman, passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s on September 27, 2024. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with Pastor Phil Ross officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield immediately following. A visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2024, and
last until the time of service. Memorial contributions in Carol’s honor may be directed to EveryStep Hospice or to the Alzheimer’s Association and mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Carol was born at home on August 30, 1938, to David William and Hattie Frances (Hardin) Gerst, in Oakville, Iowa. On October 1, 1955, she married the love of her life, Richard (Paul) Hartman, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Fairfield, Iowa. Paul and Carol were married for 37 years, before Paul’s passing on September 21, 1992. They lived their entire married life in Fairfield, where they raised their five children.
Carol was a stay-at-home mother for several years, and had such a love for children, that she also operated a day care business from her home. She cared for the children of teachers, so that she would have the summers off to dedicate time to her family, and her other love, gardening. For years, she shared garden space with her dear friend, Gay Chapman. Together they produced enough corn, tomatoes, and
other vegetables to can and freeze for the two large families until the next season. The- two friends knew if one was having a tough day if they saw the other out with the hoe or pulling weeds with a vengeance!
Carol was a natural born caregiver. She cared for her father and mother-in-law until their passing. She then went to work at Parkview Care Center as a nurse’s assistant. She loved that work so much that at age 39, she decided to go back to school and get her nursing degree. While caring for three of her children still in school, Carol received her degree as a Registered Nurse, was on the Dean’s list every, and semester, and graduated at the top of her class from Indian Hills in 1979; an honor her entire family was proud of. After graduation, Carol worked as a Pediatric Nurse at Ottumwa Regional Hospital, until her retirement.
Carol loved her family, and her life revolved around her husband, children, and nieces and nephews. Her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother, and great grandmother. She enjoyed going to all the activities and sporting events she could until her health prevented her from doing so.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Dave and Hattie; her mother and father-in-law Anna and Harold Hartman, her husband, Paul; and her sisters-in-laws (sisters of the heart) Eloise Cebuhar, Jean Cox, and Gwen (Glynee) Petersen. Also preceding her were five siblings; infant sister Judith Ellen, sister Elizabeth “Betty” (Keith-deceased) Street; sister Janet (Wayne-deceased) Shipman; brother Roger
(Dorothy-deceased) Gerst, and brother Raymond (Mary) Gerst; her nieces Debi (Cox) Wesely, Jamie (Gerst) Siegrist, and nephews Thomas Gerst, Douglas Gerst, Ralph Cook and David Cook.
Carol is survived by her children Connie Pool of Ottumwa, Colleen Hamberg of Fairfield, Jim (Tonya) Hartman of Birmingham, Mike (Rinko) of Zama, Kanagawa, Japan, and Mark Hartman of Des Moines. Her grandchildren Cody Pool, Jennifer (Matt) Glick of Ottumwa, IA; Jessica (Amy) Cooper Stockton of Leander, TX; Christoper (Samantha Volner) Cooper of Fairfield, IA, Patrick (Ekaterina Shmakova) Cooper of Keosauqua, IA, Hunter Hartman of Des Moines, Michael Anthony Hartman of Zama, Kanagawa, Japan, and Samantha Barber of Iowa City.
Also surviving are her Great Grandchildren Adrian Pool, Tytan Glick, Roman Glick, Bellamy Glick, Aiden Cooper, Jace Cooper, Bristol Cooper, and Phoenix Cooper. Surviving siblings Richard (Diane) Gerst, David (Joyce) Gerst, James (Donna) Gerst, John (Joann) Gerst, Don (Connie) Gerst, Ruthann Schroeder, Kathy (Dave) Brown, and Mary Lynn Gerst, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Special thanks go out to Smith’s Helping Hands, whose assistance allowed us to care for mom at home for so long; Addington Place, Everystep Hospice, and mom’s very special neighbors, Steve and Kathy Hyde who aside from helping out when needed, provided kindness and friendship to her and her motley crew for several years.
