Douglas J. Hartleben, 87, passed away peacefully Feb. 1, 2026, at the Willows Home in Iola.
He was born Nov. 24, 1938, to Caroline Kunzak Hartleben in the Town of Summit. Douglas grew up on a small farm near Wittenberg. He gained lifelong knowledge of working in the woods, making firewood and all the farm chores. During his high school years, he worked for Bushman Potatoes at Galloway, set pins at Wittenberg Bowling Alley and pumped gas at one of the local filling stations. He worked a summer at the Nyles Peterson farm near Shiocton where he and his wife met.
After graduating from Wittenberg High School, Doug joined the U.S. Navy. He trained for and served as a fire control technician. Stationed in Newport, Rhode Island he served aboard destroyer USS Beatty (DD756), later transferring to the USS Glennon (DD840) shortly before being discharged.
His 4½-year enlistment included two Mediterranean cruises, an opportunity to ski in the French Alps, and a few Caribbean tours among other locales.
Douglas and Faye Reimers married in 1962. They raised two sons, Fred and Peter.
Doug worked for Wisconsin Wire Works and Pierce Auto Body until he connected with AT&T. The family moved from Medina to Stevens Point, with company transfers moving them to Colorado, back to Palmyra, then back to Stevens Point where Doug retired at age 50, after 26 years with the company. His biggest ambition from then on, was to live longer than he had been employed by them. He met that goal.
Many activities occupied his time. He was pitcher for the Flambeau softball team and enjoyed thresherees and old tractor shows with a few tractors of his own. He was very proud of the “little tractor” he started building in Medina in 1963 and continued working with, and on, until his stroke in August 2025.
Besides snowmobiling and traveling, he became involved with a model railroading club in Dundee, Florida. He enjoyed black powder muzzleloaders, being an early member of the Fox Valley Muzzle Loaders Club as well a member of the Rosholt Blizzard Busters Snowmobile Club.
Douglas is survived by his wife, Faye; son, Fred, and daughter-in-law, Marla Goldman (Tennessee); daughter-in-law, Rachel Hartleben (Colorado); two sisters, Linda Ladwig (Wittenberg), and Jeanne Christiansen (Waupaca); sisters-in-law, Jean Hartleben Small and Carla Kleiner; brother-in-law, Carl Reimers; five grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents, Caroline and Arnold Hartleben; mother- and father-in-law, Arlene and Otis Reimers; his son, Peter; brothers, Allen and Arley; sister-in-law, Theresa Reimers; brothers-in-law, Pete Ladwig and John Christiansen.
A family memorial service and internment of cremains at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Appleton, will be held at future date.
