Judith Joan Hartwig

Judith Joan Hartwig was born in Plymouth Wisconsin March 21st, 1928 to her parents Roland Schmidt and Maria Vincent. Judith grew up in Marin and San Francisco, during which time her parents bought a parcel of land in rural Sebastopol where she and her sister Marguerite spent daring and delightful summers together.   Judith received her BA from San Francisco State University.  She was a kindergarten teacher for one year during which time she met her husband, John Edwin Hartwig.

She met John( Jack) while he and a friend were competing for her attention at a San Rafael dance.  Jack and Judy got married when she was 22, in 1950. She and Jack set up housekeeping in Petaluma and had their first child Gretchen in 1951.  Judith and Jack had five children together:  Gretchen, John, Joanne, Heidi, and Shannon.   After their 32 years of marriage Jack passed away suddenly.   Judith then returned to school and obtained her Masters in Early Childhood Education, and founded a Lutheran Preschool.  She directed the school for 10 plus years.

Judith was a mother to all, generous with her love, which was available to anyone who knew her.  Judith raised her five children magically, creating an environment rich with poetry, books, art, cooking, gardening, sewing, and baking, as well as intrepid adventure.

Judith loved God.  Mom truly walked with God, and taught others to live this life by example.  Judith’s belief in God was the integral part of her life.