Beverly J. Hartnett

Beverly “Bev” J. Hartnett, age 89, passed away peacefully at Orchard Manor on November 29, 2023, after spending her final days surrounded by family — including her husband for a (remarkable!) 70 years, Bernard “Buzz” Hartnett.

Bev was born in Liberty Township on August 2, 1934, the daughter of George & Rowena (Bitney) Davies. As a teen, she met a handsome young farmer named Buzz at a dance in Rockville. That chance encounter led to a marriage that lasted for the better part of a century, as the two wed on August 21, 1953.

Buzz and Bev had two children, Bruce and Becky. Bev embodied work ethic through her commitment to being a farmer’s wife, homemaker, and mother. She spent many afternoons in the stands at rodeos, cheering on her son, Bruce, including when he made it to nationals out West. Bev always loved a long drive in the country to find deer, no matter the season. Between drives she talked to her daughter, Becky, almost every day.

On top of her roles at home, Bev was elected Grant County Treasurer and served in that role for many years. She also volunteered at the Grant County Fair (where she was always ready to buy ride tickets for her grandchildren) and worked at the Wisconsin Tourism Center outside of Dubuque, IA. She probably never would have admitted it, but Bev was a “trendsetter.” She was a career woman who also raised a family in a time in which that was rare.

Beverly is survived by four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, Michelle (Jake), Brienna, and Wren Hipenbecker of Fennimore; Miranda (Eric), Lydia, and Grace Fuerstenberg of Bloomington; Brandon (Carrie), Quinn, and Kennedy Hartnett of Platteville; and Casey (Emilie), Maxwell, and Rebecca Schwab of Evanston, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George & Rowena (Bitney) Davies; her sister, Betty (Davies) Trollop; her brothers, Ralph “Bud” (Mary) Davies and Daniel “Danny” (Sandra) Davies; her children, Bruce Hartnett and Rebecca “Becky” (Hartnett) Schwab; and her granddaughter, Carrie Hartnett.

Funeral services will be held for both Bev and Buzz jointly at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, December 8, 2023, at the Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster with burial and a luncheon to follow. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until time of service at the funeral home on Friday morning.  The Martin Schwartz Funeral Home and Crematory in Lancaster is entrusted with his services.