Jeanette Anne Hartwick

Jeanette was born on November 21, 1948, to Clair and Marguerite (Butler) Sprague in Lansing, Michigan. After Jeanette and her sister, Claire, lost their mother early in life, they were blessed with a stepmother, Ilene McManamay, who brought two brothers, Thomas and David, into the family. Many years later after her father, Clair, passed away, her stepmother married Anthony Castorino.

Jeanette graduated from Waverly High School, Lansing, Michigan, in 1966. She met her future husband, Daniel John Hartwick, in 1965, at a teen center in Mason, Michigan. Dan remembers the first song they danced to was “I Saw Her Standing There” by the Beatles. They wed on September 17, 1966, and went on to have two children, Kristina Hartwick and Daniel Hartwick, Jr. After her grandchildren arrived, Haley Hartwick in 1999 and Zane Hartwick in 2000, Jeanette informed the family she wanted the grandkids to call her “Jenny”, so she’s been “Jenny” ever since.

She went to college later in life and earned an associate degree in IT from Lansing Community College; proving that it is never too late to start fresh and do something new for yourself! Jenny and her daughter, Kris, even took a couple of classes together. Jenny worked at a few different companies after receiving her degree and her family often said, “she IS the IT department!” She enjoyed helping family and friends when they reached out to her for help with computer-related issues.

Family was everything to Jenny. She loved BIG, loved the Beatles, and loved Jesus. She could often be found at Trinity Church in Lansing serving in the bookstore or library. For many years, she looked forward to taking a week off of work in the summer so she could take her grandchildren to Trinity’s vacation bible school (VBS) and she had fun helping with the VBS crafts. Every day after VBS she took Haley and Zane on fun adventures. She and Dan also loved taking Haley and Zane on vacations. There were many trips to the Silver Lake/Mears, Michigan area and a very special trip to Pictured Rocks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

When her children were younger, Jenny volunteered as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, including helping at the Girl Scout summer day camp held at Camp Kiwanis in Mason, Michigan.

Jenny enjoyed sewing and her daughter remembers that she would make clothes for her during the elementary school years. She also made doll clothing for her nieces. Her quilted pieces are treasured by family members.

Jenny was a gifted gardener. Houseplants and perennials thrived under her care. Her home was surrounded by flower beds in bloom from early spring to late fall. She especially cherished the river birch tree planted in the backyard that was a gift from her husband when she graduated from college.

For many years before and after her retirement, Dan and Jenny would winter in Gulf Shores, Alabama. They loved walking out to the beach, taking day trips and hanging out with their “snowbird” friends, including Jenny’s brother, David Sprague and sister-in-law, Candy.

Jenny is survived by her husband, Daniel Hartwick, Sr.; daughter, Kristina Hartwick; son, Daniel Hartwick, Jr.; granddaughter, Haley Hartwick; grandson, USMC Sergeant Zane Hartwick; brother, David Sprague; sister, Claire (Paul) Gonzales, and many nieces and nephews. Jenny was predeceased by her parents, stepparents, and brother, Thomas Sprague.

A celebration of life will be held in spring, 2025. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Greater Lansing Food Bank.