Dorothea M. Hartman, 94, of Decatur, IN, passed away fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church surrounded by family, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Adams Woodcrest Assisted Living. She was born on November 6, 1930, in Jauer Kreis Ohlau Schlesien, Germany, the daughter of the late Bernhard P. Kahlert Sr. and Anna (Brier) Kahlert. On April 18, 1959, she married William J. Hartman and he preceded her in death on December 12, 2022.
She was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and was a member of the Women of St. Mary’s. She was also a Den Leader of the St. Mary’s Cub Scouts.
Dorothea’s love, faith, and support to her children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren was a constant rock of strength.
She was a lifelong homemaker and also operated a small business called Dolly’s Needle Craft. She was also a member of the Ft. Wayne Hobby & Collector’s Guild. She also participated for 20 years at the Indiana State Fair, winning many awards in needle and culinary arts. She belonged to the Root Township Purdue Extension Homemaker’s Club. She received an award from the A.C.C.F. for community volunteering.
Dorothea is survived by her 3 children, Sr. Dorothea of the Blessed Sacrament, O.C.D. (Regina Hartman) of Des Plaines, IL, Renata Christine Copsey of Broken Arrow, OK, and Matthew (Shannon) Hartman of Brownsburg, IN; a brother, Alfons (Nancy) Kahlert of Decatur, IN; 6 grandchildren, Heather (Copsey) (Will) Warren, Brian (Emily Brown) Copsey, Hannah Copsey, Katelyn Hartman, Emily Hartman, and McKayla (Dr. Chiamara) Anokwute; 6 great grandchildren, Kate, Jane, & Henry Warren, Blakely & Teagan Copsey, and Elias Anokwute; several nieces and nephews.
Dorothea was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Bernhard, Josef, and Georg Kahlert; sister, Edeltraud Kahlert; 2 sisters-in-law Ann Kahlert and Hilda Kahlert; a son-in-law, Michael Scott Copsey; a daughter-in-law, Jennifer (Hawfield) Hartman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, with Father Jacob Runyon presiding. A Reciting of the Holy Rosary will be held at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, with visitation to follow until the service time from 10:20 – 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Preferred memorials may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church.
Arrangements were entrusted to Haggard-Hirschy & Zelt Funeral Home, Decatur, IN.
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