Ilo Mae Hartman

May 19, 1921-December 27, 2016, age 95, formerly of Williston, Ohio, passed away in ElPaso peacefully at home after a very long, productive, and happy life. Mrs. Hartman was born to Alvena (Rewalt) Nickelsen and Carl Nickelsen in Clay Center, Ohio. She was the youngest of 5 children. IloMae married Melvin E. Hartman on April 19, 1941, and they were happily married for 56 years, until his death in 1998. Mel and Ilo raised two daughters, Judith and Nancy, in Williston, Ohio. IloMae and Mel were extremely active members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, The Luther Home of Mercy, and the Allen Township Volunteer Fire Department, all in Williston, Ohio. IloMae worked as a homemaker and mother, as well as a clerical employee at Dunn Chevy Olds (Curtice, Ohio). After Mel’s retirement from Standard Oil of Ohio, the couple retired and spent winters in Lake Wales, Florida, and summers home in Ohio……RVing, cooking, crafting, knitting, quilting, and all the while spoiling their 4 grandchildren and their nieces/nephews. In 1991, Mel & Ilo relocated to ElPaso, TX. In ElPaso, the Hartmans were active members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church. Mel lived to welcome and love 5 great-grandchildren to the world, and Ilo lived to welcome and love 8 great-grandchildren & 2 great-great grandchildren. IloMae blessed this earth with her life of 95.5 years, acting as a role model, and pillar of strength, quietly supportive of her family, and silently tolerant of the pains of this world. Somehow even while so calm & quiet, she instilled a driving work ethic and spirit of strength in all those she influenced as a wife, mom, grandma, aunt, or friend. IloMae is preceded in death by husband Melvin Hartman, parents Carl & Alvena Nickelsen, daughter Nancy K. Lau, siblings Bernard Nickelsen, Edna Dehnart, Kathleen Schimming, & one infant sibling. IloMae is survived by her daughter Judith Witt, son-in-law Phillip Lau, grandchildren Vicki (Glen) Holbrook, Bruce (Mary) Witt, Krista (Richard) Aguirre, Staci (Dallas) Lau-Taylor. She is survived by great-grandchildren Earl, Elizabeth, Christine, Brittney, Michael, Christopher, Ian, Nickolas, Kenzi, Kaelyn, and great-great-granddaughters Esther and Addison. Services for Ilo Mae will be held on Saturday January 14, 2016, at 5:00pm at Peace Lutheran Church. (1699 Belvidere St., El Paso, TX) A memorial service and burial will be scheduled in Williston, Ohio, at a later date, likely Summer 2017. Special appreciation being sent to Dr. David Dobrin and staff for DECADES of exceptional and personal care, and for always treating Ilo as a VIP. Thank you to La Mariposa Hospice, especially Marybeth, JoJo, and Melissa for their attentiveness during the days of her passing. Thank you to all who sent prayers, and all who loved IloMae over her lifetime. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in IloMae’s name to The Luther Home of Mercy (5810 N. Main St., Williston, Ohio 43468) or The Allen-Clay Joint Fire District (3155 N. Genoa-Clay Center Rd., Genoa, Ohio 43430.)

Arrangements under the direction of Martin Funeral Home, El Paso, TX.