Fred Carl Hartman

• Fred was born on January 2, 1935 in Arneckeville, Texas to Ralph and Annie Hartman. He was the youngest of four siblings. He was closest to his brother Ralph (2 years older-passed), also a sister Maryann (6 years older-passed) and brother Henry (12 years older) living in Victoria, Texas.

• The Hartman's farmed many kinds of produce - raising watermelons that weighed more than 100 lbs and sold them for $1.00. Dad grew up farming, hunting, and fishing with his brother Ralph and other friends.

• Fred went to school in a one room school house and started high school at 13. At Cuero High School, Fred played football for the Cuero Gobblers.

• Fred followed both of his brothers and attended Texas A&M in the fall of 1952 at age 17. He was in the Corps of Cadets, played freshman football, and was on the track team so he lived in Hart Hall off the quad. He lettered throwing the discus for track .

• After he graduated in 1956, he began Veterinarian school also at Texas A&M finishing in 1958. Specializing in large animals, he opened his own practice in Edna, Texas after graduation.

• While practicing in Edna he attended local dances in the area and one night went to Schroeder Dance Hall where he cut in on a dance with Cora Kornfuehrer of Victoria. As the couple started dating long distance (Edna to Victoria - 30+miles) the local police knew Fred and would often stop him because they knew it would get him in trouble with Cora. It is also reported that he bought a "titty pink" car because it was her favorite color.

• The couple married in 1960 and settled in Edna where Fred or "Doc" remained in practice with Cora managing the clinic. In that time the couple only had two weeks of vacation because the practice was kept so busy. He was also drafted to go to the Vietnam War, but the community wrote the Draft Board that they could not lose their local Vet.

• Linda Celeste Hartman was born in October 1964.

• Fred attended Tulane University for a Master's degree in Public Health (1967 - 1969-ish). The young family enjoyed their time in New Orleans and attended one of the first New Orlean's Jazz Festivals.

• After completing his master's degree, the family settled in Austin. In September 1970 Cora gave birth to their second daughter Heather Marie Hartman.

• Fred worked as a Public Health Veterinarian and Regional Director for the Texas Health Department Cooperative Meat Division for 30 years. Two of his favorite projects were a bat education and a rabies vaccination project. Dad spoke to group's often about the dangers of bats carrying rabies, and he would want me to include this: "never touch a downed bat, especially during the day." The rabies vaccination project was a cooperative affair between the Canadian Health Department and the Texas Public Health Department. The goal was to battle back a rabies epidemic in coyotes harming livestock populations along the Texas and Mexico border. He liked this project best because he got to fly in a plane - a modified Canadian bomber from WWII.

• The family was active members at Faith Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, Fred served as the Council President twice.

• Fred always loved the challenge of being an Aggie in Austin. He also held season tickets for Aggie football games in the Letterman's section for more than 20 years.

• Fred never missed any of his daughters' horse shows, dance/piano recitals, softball games, or band events. He was an always present, loving, and the sturdy rock the family leaned on.

• Beginning in the late 1990's the couple joined the Austin Saengerunde club which began a whole new chapter in their lives. Not only were Fred and Cora in the men's and women's singing groups respectively, they also began to travel! The first trip was to Germany and then the travel bug had them. They traveled all over Europe, Russia, India, Caribbean, and Mediterranean.

• Cora Hartman, Fred's beloved wife for 52 years lost her battle with bile duct cancer on Dec. 20, 2012 .

• Fred was also preceded in death by his brother, Ralph Hartman, and sister, Maryann Hartley, he is survived by his daughter, Linda Hartman; daughter, Heather Vacek, and husband, Steven Vacek; brother, Henry Hartman; grandchildren, Mary, Grace, and Carolyn; numerous nieces and nephews.

• A special thanks to the wonderful staff of caregivers at Sodalis Memory Care in Buda and to Janaro with Heart to Heart Hospice.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, or to the Alzheimer's Association, Capital of Texas Chapter.