Jolene Hangartner died on Palm Sunday at the age of 90. Jolene was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Hangartner; parents, Joe Matt and Ethel Lawson; and her brothers, Harvey Lawson and E.J. Lawson.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Hangartner and husband, Bob Van Dorpe of Winter Springs, FL; son, Scott Hangartner and wife, Karen of Huntsville; grandchildren, Alan Hangartner and wife, Carol Ann, Lawson Hangartner, and Haley Hangartner and husband, Dominick Skinner, all of Huntsville; great-granddaughters, Sophie Hangartner and Olivia Hangartner; sisters, Wilma Hutson and Una B. Partin of Williamsburg, KY.
Jolene was born in Nevisdale, KY and grew up there, in Oak Ridge, TN, and in Saxton, KY. She graduated from Pleasant View (later Whitley County) High School in 1952 and took accounting classes at the University of Illinois.
While a student at U of I, she was an evening Arthur Murray dance instructor and she and Jim met when he came in to take dancing lessons. They married, lived and worked in Urbana, IL and then moved to Indian Harbour Beach, FL when Jim started working at NASA-Kennedy Space Center supporting the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. Jolene devoted time and effort raising Scott and Susan and worked at Kmart Corporation as they got older. Jolene and Jim moved to Orlando, FL while still working and then relocated to Huntsville, AL after their retirement.
Jolene was an active member in each of these communities, serving as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, School Crossing Guard, Little League Baseball Concessions Stand Manager, and Homeowners Associations Officer. She enjoyed growing and nurturing plants, swimming, needlework, Bible studies, was an expert weed puller and dog walker, and always tried to serve others where needed.
She was a former member of First Baptist Church-Orlando, Whitesburg Baptist Church and Rivertree Church in Hampton Cove. She served as a teacher, an usher, assisted with church landscaping, and participated in annual mission trips to Bridgend Wales, United Kingdom. She and Jim took two trips to visit the Holy Land in Israel.
Jolene lived in the Hampton Manor subdivision and then was a resident at Magnolia Trace where she volunteered in the WillowBrooke Court Skilled Care Center. Many thanks and appreciation to the staffs and caregivers at Crestwood Hospital, WillowBrooke Court, and Hospice of North Alabama.
“May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” Psalm 19:14
No funeral services or visitation will be held.
