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Frank Alvin Hartwig was born on September 27, 1941 in Storm Lake, IA, the fourth son to Frank Carl Hartwig and Jessie Edith Wright Hartwig. His family lived in numerous towns throughout Northwest Iowa. He attended elementary and junior high school in Sac County, IA, and assisted with the family farm. Farming has always been a big part of his life. While in high school, his parents bought a nursing home and settled in Perry, IA. Frank and his wife Judy started dating after high school and later were engaged and married in 1964. Frank was enlisted in the Iowa National Guard, which he completed six years of faithful service to his country. Frank went on to graduate from Grandview College in Des Moines, IA and went on to the University of Iowa in Iowa City. After the service and college, Frank's first big position was with Monsanto's plant in Northwest Iowa. He later took a position with Land O Lakes in the chemical department, which took his family to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he travelled much of the Midwest, assisting farmers. In 1984, Frank transferred to Arizona with Land O Lakes and moved his family to Mesa, AZ. A few years later, in 1987 A.L. Gilbert, offered him a position in Turlock, CA as their Manufacturing Representative for the Animal Feed Department, and they headed for California. He was the first salesman hired by A.L. Gilbert in 1987, six months before the plant officially opened in June 1988. Frank and Judy recently celebrated 53 years of marriage. On March 31, 2009, Frank retired, as his health slowly deteriorated, and in 2013 he became a resident of Park Merced Assisted Living. For the last two years he has been under the loving care of Hinds Hospice. Sadly, on August 2, 2017, he peacefully passed away. Frank is survived by his wife, Judy, and is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and sisters in law, Harlan & Jean Hartwig and Loren and Janice Hartwig. He leaves behind Joelle and Tim Pagnozzi of Mesa, AZ, Jamie Hartwig of Livermore, CA, his grandson Zachary Hartwig, along with his brother and wife Dr. Nolan and Nancy Hartwig of Ames, IA, brother in law and wife Jerry and Aileen Brelsford of Kansas City, MO. Frank was always very proud of his family and his immediate extended family. He had so much positive energy to offer the world, his love of people and was never known to be speechless among his family, friends, or even strangers. His big heart and vibrant personality will be missed by all those who had the pleasure to know him. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 18, at Turlock Funeral Home, 425 N Soderquist Rd, Turlock. Reception to follow.

Tributes

Frank Alvin Hartwig

September 27, 1941 - August 2, 2017