Andy Dean Hartwig

Andy Dean Hartwig, age 78, passed away on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Iowa, under the care of St. Croix Hospice, after a nine-year battle with cancer. Andy was born April 19, 1947, the third child of six to Raymond and Lorraine Hartwig. He grew up on the home farm on the Otranto blacktop, and he attended elementary school in Otranto. He then went on to attend high school in St. Ansgar, graduating in 1965. Andy enlisted in the 1133 National Guard Unit in 1966 and remained a member for nine years.

In 1969, he married Susan Kleckner. They became parents of two children, a son Tom and a daughter, Kerry. In 1971, they moved from St. Ansgar to Northwood, where Andy worked for the Iowa DOT for two years, before starting work for Worth County Secondary Roads, a job he truly loved along with the close friendships he developed there. He retired in 2009.

Andy’s “happy places” were fishing trips to Leech Lake with Dale Jones in the summer. He would spend hours getting the fishing tackle ready and hopefully catch their limit. He enjoyed plowing and hauling grain for Dale Jones and Garth Jordan. Vacations to Texas, Arizona, and Washington State to see family and friends were never long enough. He enjoyed coffee with the guys at Bean and Bistro, discussing all the latest “news”. Then, if the Iowa Hawkeyes were winning. He was a happy man. If they lost, not so much.

Andy is survived by his wife, Susan; son, Tom, granddaughter; Jordan (Tyler), three very special great grandchildren, Hudson, Ellison, Kayson; daughter, Kerry and grand dog Gracie. What a unique relationship man and dog had! Also surviving Andy are three brothers, Arlynn (Ginny), Craig (Nancy), and Michael; brothers-in-law, Duane Miller (Maryann), and Larry Kleckner, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; father and mother-in-law; sisters, Audrey, and Connie. He has now been reunited with his co-workers from the Secondary Roads Department, who he truly missed: Rocky, Jerry, Roger, Donnie, and Jay. Let the stories begin!

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Lutheran Retirement Home and St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care given to Andy this last month.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel in Northwood, Iowa, with Jami Dahlin, Chaplin of St. Croix Hospice officiating. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at Sunset Rest Cemetery.

Hoff Celebrations – Sites Memorial Chapel of Northwood is assisting the family with arrangements.