AKRON – Kathryn I. Hartzler, 82, Akron, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at 8:40 a.m. July 13, 2015, in her residence. She was born April 27, 1933, in Marshall County, to Harold E. and Carrie Irene McGriff Walters. On June 17, 1951, in the Athens EUB Church, she married Stephen L. Hartzler, who survives in Akron. They were married for 64 years. She raised her family while managing and working in the home and on the farm. After her family was raised, she managed the Fulton County License Branch and was a greeter at her son’s funeral home. She moved from the Richland Center community to the Akron area while in grade school. She graduated in 1951 from Akron High School where she was a class officer and a high school cheerleader. She enjoyed raising Hereford cattle with her husband, her high school sweetheart who she married right after graduating. She was a 10-year 4-H member and she was a driving force to her children to follow and do the same. She started her political career as the vice precinct committeeman in Fulton County. She always worked hard to get many good candidates elected, but never ran for an office herself. She was known in the county as well as the state for her Republican politics, serving as vice chairman and county chairman for many years as well as secretary of the Fifth District and being a delegate to the National Convention in 1988. Although she had lost most of her sight she always stayed in the political loop. She was awarded two Sagamores of the Wabash and a Distinguished Hoosier by three different governors. She and her husband held season tickets at Tippecanoe Valley High School for the boys’ basketball games since the school’s inception as well as having season tickets for the Notre Dame Women’s Basketball for many years. Also surviving are: two daughters, Stephenia Barkman and Melinda (and spouse Pete) Pratt, all of Rochester; a son, Mark (and spouse Deb) Hartzler, Akron; five grandchildren: Melea Powell-Hoffer, Stephen and Ashley Heinzmann, Stacey McGriff and Blaine Hartzler; four step grandchildren: Stacy and Scott Barkman, Tara Wolfe and Tabitha Floor; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Ann Deaton, Bourbon; and a brother, Lloyd (and spouse Linda) Walters, Rochester. She was precede in death by her parents; an infant brother, Richard Walters; a brother, Herschel Walters; and a son-in-law, Jim Barkman. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Pastor Phil Pratt officiating. Burial is in Akron Cemetery. Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. ***** Contributions to Stephen and Kathryn Hartzler Memorial Scholarship, entrusted at the Northern Indiana Community Foundation. Condolences via www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com
