Violet I. Hartman's Obituary
Waltraut Ingeborg Schroder-Hartman
Waltraut (Violet) age 86 passed away March 31, 2016 after surgery on a broken leg. Violet was a very outspoken woman, a spice of life. She loved music, reading, sewing, crocheting afghans and gardening. In her later life she spent time feeding and watching the birds in the yard. Violet loved to talk about the adventures in her life.
Violet was born May 19, 1929 in Berlin, Germany. As a young girl, Violet and her brother Junter, lived through the turmoil of World War II. Violet’s mother was an opera singer, her father a military police officer. Often to escape the chaos of the bombings, the Russian control of Berlin and the Berlin Air Lift, Violet and her brother were sent to various areas of the country. This would be a catholic monastery for schooling in Switzerland or their uncles farm in the country. Violet’s father was killed during the war, her mother and brother has survived the good and the bad of the war. Violet was very athletic, she loved skiing, most of all swimming was her joy, in fact we kids could not figure out how she could bob in one place without moving her arms.
In 1945 when the war was over Violet had a job with the BBC Document Center. This is where records or papers were sorted to use during the Nuremberg Trials. Violet was at this time 17 years old. Violet worked for a Colonel in the US Army, this is where she met a young 19 year old CLP Donald C. Hartman, also worked in the Document Center. Violet always said that they were comrades, they fell in love. Donald finished his tour of duty and was sent home to South Dakota. It took a year of corresponding with the help of Donald’s sister Loraine and Violet’s brother, translating German to English. Violet and Donald had to get permission from their parents, before Violet could come to America to be Donald’s bride. Donald’s grandfather became Violet’s sponsor. Thus the German War Bride.
Don and Vi lived on a farm that was bought with a GI loan, now Vi, age 19 became a farm wife and soon to be a mother of three children. First came Charlotte, then David and Clyde. In the summer 1960, Don moved the family to Oracle, AZ. Vi was with child. Allen was born. Violet lived in Oracle 56 years. She worked with her husband to raise a family, helping at the 76 Union Gas Station, pumping gas or paper work. She became a private duty nurse at Devon Gables Nursing Home in Tucson and several other agents. Violet was a member of the Womens Auxiliary, also was a big part in the makings of the Oracle Fire Department. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Violet loved the holidays with them especially Easter. She lit up those young eyes with baskets full of goodies.
Violet is survived by four children, Charlotte (Ron) Strawn, David (Patricia) Hartman, Clyde Hartman and Allen Hartman; five grandchildren; three step grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren. Violet was preceded in death by husband Donald C. Hartman; brother, Junter Schroder; mother, Martha Schroder and father, Fredrick Schroder.
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