1972
Melanie
2013
Melanie Hartman
January 28, 1972 — April 15, 2013
Melanie Rotz Hartman, 41, of Clear Lake, MN, formerly of Clitherall, died Monday, April 15, 2013, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Melanie Jane Hartman (née Rotz), a devoted, loving and inspiring mother, wife, daughter and sister was born January 28, 1972, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota (MN). She grew up on the family farm in Leaf Mountain Township, where the Rotz and Hartman family have lived for more than 100 years. Melanie was a scholar. She graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1990, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota in 1993. She earned a master degree in Experiential Education at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1998, while holding the position of Director of Student Activities.
During her childhood, Melanie discovered her love of leadership and combined it with her zest for life and passion for building and being part of a community. She first attended 4-H camp when she was eight years old and this experience shaped her love of travel and professional career path. After spending a semester at St. Catherine's College in Ireland, she explored Europe for three months with all her possessions in a small backpack. Between 1993 and 1998 she worked at camps in Minnesota, Virginia, China and Mexico, before moving to California where she served as the Director of the Student Leadership and Involvement Center and as adjunct faculty member at the University of Redlands for three years.
In 2002, Melanie returned to Minnesota to join High Impact Training as a consultant in leadership and organizational development, and more importantly to be with her rock, soul mate and love of her life, Tim Hartman. He proposed to Melanie in February 26, 2003, at the Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee and they married on July 10, 2004 on the Rotz dairy farm. They set up home in Clear Lake, MN and religiously travelled every weekend to their home in Millerville, MN. Together they have two beautiful children, Reid Basil, age 6 and Autumn Esther, age 4.
Her children and family were the center of her world. She lived a faith filled life. Melanie was a naturalist at heart and loved the beauty of the outdoors, the changing of the seasons. She weaved new and family traditions throughout her everyday life and embraced every holiday with her creativity and splendor. From creating a tree skirt for the Family Christmas tree with her children's handprints, making handmade Christmas gifts with Reid and Autumn each year, crocheting afghan blankets for family and friends celebrating the birth of a baby or marriage, to designing handmade birthday cards for every family member each year. Melanie was a gift to every soul she met, life she touched and person who she inspired.
She had a radiant smile and wonderful laugh. She always had a story, advice to offer or encouraging words to share about running marathons, health and wellness, camping, natural childbirth or organic gardening (and more!). Providing nourishing local-grown food for her children was of utmost importance to Melanie. Her insurmountable energy made sure every day was filled with activities, projects that accrued to her and her family's dreams and long-term plans in life.
Melanie was loving and nurturing, she was born to be a mother and a cheerleader of life. She helped instill in Reid Basil the values of respect, compassion and believing in oneself. Autumn Esther has adopted her energetic spirit of adventure, curiosity and determination. Both children share her optimism, deep love and passion for life. Every day she educated the children through play and new experiences.
She was incredibly proud of every individual's accomplishment, particularly how her parents raised her and her brother Derek and the success of the Rotz dairy farm. She was very proud of her brothers' compassion, intelligence and commitment to better the world through science and technology, and her husbands' hard work, unending promise and dedication to realize their shared dreams.
A leader in her professional work and family, Melanie believed in everyone's ability to make a difference and change the world. She also lived with this intention. In her work, she inspired and motivated thousands of students and professionals to realize their personal vision and to live purposefully. Melanie was the eldest cousin and matriarch, she took her role seriously. She guided, cared and encouraged everyone through decisions about college, family and careers, with her hope, wisdom and belief in the power of the human spirit and love of others.
Melanie is survived by her husband Tim, her children Reid Basil and Autumn Esther, her parents Wayne and Linda Rotz, brother and sister-in-law Derek and Rhian Rotz, her grandfather Urban Klimek, her mother and father-in-law Basil and Patty Hartman, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her grandparents William and Esther Rotz, Loretta Klimek and sister-in-law Brenda Hartman.
Funeral Mass: 11 am, Saturday, April 20 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, MN
Visitation: 3 to 7 pm with a Parish Prayers as 7 pm on Friday at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, MN. And one-hour prior the service.
Clergy: Father LeRoy Scheierl
Cemetery: Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery in Millerville
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake
Flowers: BL Flowers 763-300-5950
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
Melanie Jane Hartman (née Rotz), a devoted, loving and inspiring mother, wife, daughter and sister was born January 28, 1972, Parkers Prairie, Minnesota (MN). She grew up on the family farm in Leaf Mountain Township, where the Rotz and Hartman family have lived for more than 100 years. Melanie was a scholar. She graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1990, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and English from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota in 1993. She earned a master degree in Experiential Education at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1998, while holding the position of Director of Student Activities.
During her childhood, Melanie discovered her love of leadership and combined it with her zest for life and passion for building and being part of a community. She first attended 4-H camp when she was eight years old and this experience shaped her love of travel and professional career path. After spending a semester at St. Catherine's College in Ireland, she explored Europe for three months with all her possessions in a small backpack. Between 1993 and 1998 she worked at camps in Minnesota, Virginia, China and Mexico, before moving to California where she served as the Director of the Student Leadership and Involvement Center and as adjunct faculty member at the University of Redlands for three years.
In 2002, Melanie returned to Minnesota to join High Impact Training as a consultant in leadership and organizational development, and more importantly to be with her rock, soul mate and love of her life, Tim Hartman. He proposed to Melanie in February 26, 2003, at the Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee and they married on July 10, 2004 on the Rotz dairy farm. They set up home in Clear Lake, MN and religiously travelled every weekend to their home in Millerville, MN. Together they have two beautiful children, Reid Basil, age 6 and Autumn Esther, age 4.
Her children and family were the center of her world. She lived a faith filled life. Melanie was a naturalist at heart and loved the beauty of the outdoors, the changing of the seasons. She weaved new and family traditions throughout her everyday life and embraced every holiday with her creativity and splendor. From creating a tree skirt for the Family Christmas tree with her children's handprints, making handmade Christmas gifts with Reid and Autumn each year, crocheting afghan blankets for family and friends celebrating the birth of a baby or marriage, to designing handmade birthday cards for every family member each year. Melanie was a gift to every soul she met, life she touched and person who she inspired.
She had a radiant smile and wonderful laugh. She always had a story, advice to offer or encouraging words to share about running marathons, health and wellness, camping, natural childbirth or organic gardening (and more!). Providing nourishing local-grown food for her children was of utmost importance to Melanie. Her insurmountable energy made sure every day was filled with activities, projects that accrued to her and her family's dreams and long-term plans in life.
Melanie was loving and nurturing, she was born to be a mother and a cheerleader of life. She helped instill in Reid Basil the values of respect, compassion and believing in oneself. Autumn Esther has adopted her energetic spirit of adventure, curiosity and determination. Both children share her optimism, deep love and passion for life. Every day she educated the children through play and new experiences.
She was incredibly proud of every individual's accomplishment, particularly how her parents raised her and her brother Derek and the success of the Rotz dairy farm. She was very proud of her brothers' compassion, intelligence and commitment to better the world through science and technology, and her husbands' hard work, unending promise and dedication to realize their shared dreams.
A leader in her professional work and family, Melanie believed in everyone's ability to make a difference and change the world. She also lived with this intention. In her work, she inspired and motivated thousands of students and professionals to realize their personal vision and to live purposefully. Melanie was the eldest cousin and matriarch, she took her role seriously. She guided, cared and encouraged everyone through decisions about college, family and careers, with her hope, wisdom and belief in the power of the human spirit and love of others.
Melanie is survived by her husband Tim, her children Reid Basil and Autumn Esther, her parents Wayne and Linda Rotz, brother and sister-in-law Derek and Rhian Rotz, her grandfather Urban Klimek, her mother and father-in-law Basil and Patty Hartman, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her grandparents William and Esther Rotz, Loretta Klimek and sister-in-law Brenda Hartman.
Funeral Mass: 11 am, Saturday, April 20 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, MN
Visitation: 3 to 7 pm with a Parish Prayers as 7 pm on Friday at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, MN. And one-hour prior the service.
Clergy: Father LeRoy Scheierl
Cemetery: Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery in Millerville
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake
Flowers: BL Flowers 763-300-5950
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
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