Joan I Hartman

Mrs. Joan I. Hartman of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away August 12, 2025, in Kalamazoo. Joan was born August 8, 1928, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Lester and Dorothy (Walter) LaLiberte. She grew up in Parchment, MI, attending Parchment Public Schools through 8th grade, completing high school at Kalamazoo Central. She attended Kalamazoo College, transferred to Michigan State University completing her bachelor’s degree in Dietitics. She did internships at Henry Ford Hospital and at the University of Michigan Hospital. Her working life began at the Michigan State University Union, in their food service. She married Paul R. Hartman of Sandusky, Ohio on December 8, 1956 in Lansing. Throughout their marriage they lived at the Kellogg Biological Station at Gull Lake, in Comstock and in Columbia, SC. She took a hiatus from working to raise their 3 children. She returned to work later in life, first for the US Census department and then as a Dietitian for the Veterans Administration both in Battle Creek, MI and Columbia, SC. Joan volunteered over 6,000 hours at Palmetto Health-Richland in Columbia in retirement and was a faithful member of the Episcopal Church.

Joan and Paul enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and abroad. They enjoyed times at their condo on Hilton Head Island and many cruising adventures. Their adventurous spirit was instilled in their children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters-in-law Jane (James) Hotchkiss, Ruth (Earl) Sletz, and Lois (James) Sharrah and their husbands. Joan is survived by children, David (Sarah) Hartman of DeWitt, MI, Gary (Judy) Hartman of Spencerport, NY, and Jill (Victor) Bland of Kalamazoo, MI; grandchildren, Carolyn (Kyle), Christopher (Mi-Ann), Nicholas, Benjamin, Brian, Meghan (Sam) and McKenna (Evan); great-grandchildren Oscar, Elliott, Eli, Anna, Ava, and Mackenna; many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Kalamazoo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.