Velma Jean Hartke, age 94 of Coldwater, Ohio died on Monday, April 28, 2025 at Briarwood Village in Coldwater, which has been her home since 2017. She was born September 20, 1930, in St. Rose, Ohio to the late Aloys & Rose (Bruns) Meier. She married Richard G. Hartke on November 18, 1950, in St. Rose Church, St. Rose, Ohio and he preceded her in death on May 1, 1997.

Velma is survived by her children and in-laws: Kenneth & Mary (Broering), Versailles; Bill's wife Kathy (Ahrens), St. Henry; David & Diana (Heitkamp), Coldwater; Anne & Donald Pottkotter, Celina; Ronald & Susan (Brusman), Xenia; Kathy & Eugene Grieshop, Versailles; Cynthia & Gary Carr, Coldwater, MI; Samuel & Sandy (Prenger), Maria Stein; Mary Jane & Kevin Koesters, St. Henry. Velma was preceded in death by her children: Herbert (dec. as infant, 1951); William (dec. 2015), St. Henry; & James (dec. 2021), Celina. She had 35 grandchildren (2 step, 2 dec.) & 73 great grandchildren. Surviving siblings and in-laws: Julitta Overman, Edna Reichert, Marilyn Uhlenhake, all of Coldwater; Joan Hummel, St. Henry; Anita Homan, Larry & Mary Jane Meier, Nick & Marge Meier, Maria Stein; Diane & Don Albers, Osgood; Dale & Jane Meier, Versailles; Mary Lou Broerman & Tim Bergman, Minster.
Velma was preceded in death by siblings & in-laws: Lillian & Arnold Homan, Eileen & Ben Pleiman, Ben Overman, Ernie Uhlenhake, Lavern Reichert, Don Hummel, Rich Broerman, Lester Homan; infant siblings Marvin & Mary Magdalene.

Also preceded in death by Hartke in-laws: Vera & Lester Huwer, Alvin & Rita Hartke, Jill & Arthur Folino, Sylvester & Ruth Hartke, Norbert Hartke, and Bertha & George Beals. Velma was the last survivor of that generation in the Hartke family.

After graduation, Velma worked at New Idea until she started her family and then helped on the farm. She was a member of the St. Monica Sodality, Carthagena, Ohio. After her children left the house, she worked at Raffels Engine Service and volunteered at Community Hospital. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, puzzles, watching the Reds and spending time with her grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10.30 am. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Carthagena, Ohio on Friday, May 2, 2025. Burial in the cemetery will follow the funeral mass. Friends and family may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater, Ohio from 2pm to 7pm on Thursday and from 9am to 10am before the mass. Memorial contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice.

Condolences for the family may be expressed at www.hogenkampfh.com.