Don E. Hartzell, age 86 of North Branch died at his home surrounded by his family on June 22, 2020. Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 2nd at New Hope Community Church Cambridge Campus; doors will open 15 minutes before service. A visitation will be Wednesday, July 1st from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Strike Life Tributes in Cambridge. The family is strongly encouraging face masks.
If you are unable to join us in person, please join us via the celebration of life livestream on “The Don Harzell Fan Club” group on Facebook. If you have not yet joined The Don Hartzell Fan Club group, click the link provided below, click join, and then proceed to the livestream post. The direct link to this group is as follows: https://www.facebook.com/groups/donhartzellfanclub/
Donald Eugene Hartzell was born on a hot summer day on June 2, 1934 to Gladys and Earl Hartzell in Tyler, Minnesota. He graduated from Lynd High School in 1952 and earned a BA from St Cloud State in 1956. Don taught for one year in Hutchinson, MN and then served in the Army from 1957-1959. Upon returning from Korea, he continued teaching and earned a MA from Indiana State University in Terre Haute. Then, Mr. Hartzell spent a year as Elementary School principal in Hector, MN. He came to North Branch in August 1963 to become the principal of North Branch Elementary School and retired in 1991. Don married Marlene Rutz of Hutchinson, MN in August of 1965 and became the proud father of daughter, Linda Louise in 1974.The Hartzell family lived in North Branch since 1965 except for a sabbatical year in 1983-1984 when the family served at Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines. Over the years Don was involved with the Jaycees, Cub Scouts, Civic Clubs, a weekly bowling league and serving in the community including playing the town Santa for 3 decades. He was active with the Lions Club (charter president in 1973) and the Gideons (since 1968). In retirement, Don worked at Grandview Christian Home, McDonalds and Rod’s Berry Farm. He liked to fish, hunt, garden, grow apple trees and harvest produce for the family and the local Farmer’s Market.
Don was an Elder, Choir member and faithful to Elim Baptist Church in Isanti now New Hope Community Church. Don and Marlene supported missionaries and even took 5 trips to the Ukraine around the year 2000. To know Don was to know his jokes, smiles, generosity of spirit, hugs and handshakes. Don Hartzell showed his love for God and people by his way of life.
Don passed away peacefully under hospice care at his home in North Branch, MN on June 22, 2020 surrounded by his loving wife and daughter. Don is preceded in death by his parents, Earl Hartzell, Gladys Fields and Lester Fields, father and mother-in-law, Frank and Louise Rutz; his brother, Richard Hartzell; niece, Karin Hartzell; and brother-in-law, Warren Jamison.
Don is survived by his loving wife, Marlene Hartzell of over 54 years; daughter, Linda (Brian) Schubring of Minneapolis and granddaughter, Camila Schubring; sisters, Mary (Phil) Anderson of Windom, MN, Diane (John) Jamison-Richards of Alexandria, MN; sister-in-law, Phyllis Hartzell of Benson, MN; brothers, Bob (Kay) Hartzell of Leadville, CO, Deane (Connie) Hartzell of Nashville, TN; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones, dear neighbors, friends and former students.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the following organizations he loved and supported.
The Gideons International
With every GideonCard you send, your donation provides for Bibles and New Testaments to be distributed around the world.
https://www.sendtheword.org/Product/ProductList
Children’s Shelter of Cebu
Providing homes for orphaned abandoned, and surrendered children in the Philippines since 1979.
https://cebushelter.org/donate/give
Recycled Lives
A non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of people living in poverty through facilitating access to resources that are physical, spiritual and/or financial in nature. http://recycledlives.org/?page_id=13
I’m so very heartbroken for all of you but I’m very very happy for Don!!! Such an amazing Godly man that has touched so very many lives. He glowed with the presence of Jesus in him always. I will miss miss miss his wonderful hugs and his glorious smile and personality. There are so many greeting him as he joins our farther in heaven. I’m praying for you all and praising our father for his love during these times. Love and hugs to you all.
Our hearts are heavy with Don’s homegoing, for he will be greatly missed. Oh, that smile. . . But we rejoice in his joy as he looks on our Savior’s face. Until we see him again. . .
Mr. Hartzell was such a caring man. It’s been many, many years since he was my principal. He always had a smile and kind words for everyone. He will be deeply missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Blessings to all who loved this man as much as he loved his community. A great principal, volunteer, community servant and a love for his family and friends. You will be missed! 💔😢
Don hired me in 1985 to serve as a teacher in North Branch Area Public Schools. I spent 33 years there before retiring in 2018. I valued Don’s friendship from day 1. After his retirement I enjoyed seeing Don around NB activities which lead to us telling stories and exchanging jokes. We seemed to always run into each other at the Stuga in Harris. We were both regulars there.
Don was an outstanding man. He was a better friend.
Mr H was an amazing man. Not only was he a part of my childhood he was a part of my children’s as well. He was the first Santa lap they ever sat on. My love goes out to the family at the loss of this sweet and gentle man.
Don was one of a kind. A great man and an awesome father and husband. A volleyball super fan when Linda played volleyball! Always active, involved, and positive. All of us would do well to be contribute half as much as he did. RIP Don. Keep smiling.
Don Hartzell was one of the good guys! He was the first person we met when we moved to North Branch School district and was such a caring man, I felt that as a 4th grader. My mom had the pleasure of working with him for many years and loved it. The world needs more Mr. Hartzells! Prayers to the entire family.
Remembering so many smiles, encouragement, caring. He,was a true example of grace. The whole family is in my thoughts.
Prayers, sympathy and celebration. He is with the Father.
I was a Chisago County Deputy Sheriff and had many occasions to talk with Don. He was a great citizen and School Principal. He was a wonderful person and I am sure he will be deeply missed by many family members and friends. My sincere condolences to his family.
Don, you were a gem. Rest in peace my friend. Prayers to your loved ones.
I am so sorry to read of Mr. Hartzell’s passing. He was my elementary school principal. He had such a warm and personable demeanor…always had a smile. He was a great man and a blessing to many. My deepest sympathy for his family.
Thoughts & prayers to your family. Mr Hartzel was my school principal growing up & what a true blessing. I will never forget him catching the bus for me! He saw how scared I was, ran for the bus, & helped me on. Even at a young age, I truly understood how special & caring he was! Many hugs, Krissy (Ferguson) Belland
Mr. Hartzell was NB Elementary School Principal when I attended my elementary school years there from 1968-75. Many years later, in the 1980s, I was so surprised when I found him walking alone along the highway from Tarlac City, Philippines, trying to find the Bible School and missionary center my parents, the late Revs. John and Betty Cedergren, had founded. He was very happy that we happened to pass by and notice him! Those were the days before cellphones! My mom, Betty Cedergren, worked as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher in the NBES under his supervision also from around 1969-79. My dad and mom cherished the friendship they enjoyed with Don and Marlene until they passed away in September and October 2019. Seeing Don at my mom’s memorial service was something I will hold in my heart.
On behalf of Mark and Beth Cedergren (my brother and sister-in-law), please accept our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers. For Don now is with his loving Savior, Jesus Christ. “For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” for the child of God, II Corinthians 5:8
I was sad to hear of the passing of Don Hartzell. I remember Mr. Hartzell well from my elementary days in North Branch. He was so kind and always had a smile for us kids. He will forever be part of some very fond memories!
Heaven has gained a Beautiful soul. Mr. Hartzell was my elementary school principal. His smile was infectious!! Always a smile and a hug! He was an Amazing Principal! He always remembered the names of my Mom and my Brother and my name all through the years! From my kids sitting on Santa’s lap, to seeing him at Rod’s Berry patch he never forgot my family. Always a hug and a smile. Such a BLESSING to all that knew him. A True Christian in every way! I will miss his kindness and his smile. Prayers for his Family.
The patience Don had year after year as parents placed their children on “Santa’s” lap, and always a smile. Even for a newspaper reporter and editor. Truly, the North Branch community had a gem in this fine man. All the good things said about him are accurate. Sympathy to his family, praise for his going home to be with his Father.
Marlene and Linda, I am so very sorry for your loss of Don, but know he is having a great time telling his jokes in heaven! The last time I saw Don, he gave me a huge hug and told me how good it was to see me with tears in his eyes. I will never forget how touched I was by that act of love and kindness. I am praying for you all! Love, Danika Larson
I was sorry to hear about the passing of “Mr. Hartzell”. He was instrumental in hiring me twice. He was the first principal I worked under. I appreciated his sense of humor and even temperament in managing all that went on at North Branch Elementary School. You could tell he loved kids and people in general as even after he retired, he positioned himself where he could interact with them. The last time I saw him was at my retirement party at our house. He and Marlene came for which I was honored. Don knew my Dad, as they were Gideons during the same time period. He was a fine Christian who loved God’s Word and endeavored to spread the “Good News”. We can rejoice that he is now in his heavenly home.
Don, you will be greatly missed. You have been a steadfast friend and mentor to me in how to live out my faith in generosity, love and joy. You were the one that wrote out the first check so I could pay the $800 IRS application fee to what would become the Nonprofit Recycled Lives which you have continued to support over the past 8 years with prayers, financial gifts and Spanish Gideon’s bibles. I miss your visits, jokes, conversations and hugs when it was my turn to serve coffee and treats sunday mornings at Elim.
How my heart aches for your beloved family because I know how much my heart hurts. We can rejoice in your home going to heaven but there will be so much missing in the wait to see you in heaven and receive those Don-sized hugs.
Don,
you are loved and missed by many! Your smile, your jokes, and your hugs, are some of the things we will miss the most!
So many people are grieving you, but at the same time we are rejoicing that you are with your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! So many mixed emotions! Sending hugs to all who love and miss you!
You know when you read the paper and you see a name that touches you? Well, I met this man in Kindergarten crying for my Mommy.
I was super shy, scared to death that day but Mr. Hartzell made me feel safe and I decided I could come back for day 2. You see, he promised me he’d be there for me.
In those days you could be hugged by the adults and I frequently got a hug from my buddy, Mr. Hartzell.
Kids know genuine kindness and caring. I’ve never forgotten the care he gave, not just me, but all of us.
Heaven has another special angel!
I am so sad for family and close friends, it’s hard to grieve but still celebrate his home going.
Thank you for sharing him all those years ago.
So sorry to hear of Mr. Hartzells passing, he was my elementary principal in the late 80s and he was always such a good man. everytime id see him even as an adult wed still tall and laugh about him picking me up by my ears. always had a smile and a handshake and was just truly an amazing man and he will be missed! RIP Don!
Heaven is rejoicing with the homecoming of this faithful servant. Much good work was done through this man and he blessed my life. For that I am grateful
Don had that contagious spirit about him that made everyone else around him that much better. Unless of course, you were sent to the Principals office in elementary school :) A man of integrity. A man who modeled living out the fruits of the Spirit – Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. A man who was a giver, not a taker. Evident from the mission organizations he supported in addition to his partnership and support he gave to Tami and me in our mission with Timber Bay. Don, WE WILL see you later!
On behalf of the Cambridge Lions Club we wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family of Don Hartzell. We all enjoyed his joyous spirit at Lion’s functions . Also we enjoyed his many jokes. He was a very special Lion. He always made sure that we received a Lion’s Calendar every year. We will miss him, and will surely miss seeing him at all Lion’s events. Please accept our sincere condolences.
My most sincere condolences for the loss you are experiencing and will continue to experience. Don was so special in every kind, caring and loving way. May our good Lord bless and keep you and all who are grieving. Love and prayers. June McLean
Not only was Don Hartzell my elementary school principal, but I had the pleasure of getting to know him as a coworker at the John Henry store at Tanger Mall. I can only picture him smiling as he always did! He only knew kindness. Sending love to his family.
A truly loving great man has passed. Have fun in heaven, Don!
I was a student of Mr. Hartzell’s at the North Branch Elementary School from 1968 to 1972, he will always be a very good friend and principal to me, we would stop at their home at Halloween and visit for a while, he was and will always be a great friend, my families condolences go out to the Hartzell family and friends and to his many students….RIP🙏🇺🇸💗