Wayne Hartwig

On July 24th, 2026, the world lost a good man and heaven gained another angel. 

Wayne Roy Hartwig of Pequot Lakes, MN, passed away surrounded by his family. Wayne was born in Pequot Lakes on January 6, 1942, to Roy and Leona (nee Tepfer) Hartwig. Wayne grew up the second of five children on his father's farm, where he developed his ethic for hard work and his love of animals. He was active in sports and church as a youth. He met the love of his life, Diane Braden, whom he married in January 1962. They welcomed their first daughter, Connie Marie, and went on to have two more girls, Cathy Ann and Teresa Diane. 

Wayne loved sports, animals, traveling, history, and geography. He played softball for a local team, was an avid Vikings fan, and love to hunt and fish. He worked hard to take his family on camping/fishing trips as well as to see his mother-in-law, Mildred Braden and his sister-in-law, Charlotte Burch, both of Seattle, WA. After retirement he and Diane sold their house and lived the RV lifestyle, traveling to Texas and Arizona to visit their daughters as well as seeing other parts of the country. In his life, Wayne was known to help injured or abandoned animals including an owl, a crow, and numerous squirrels and rabbits. He loved history and also could often be found poring over his Atlas, studying the geography of the country. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Harold and Dennis Hartwig, all of Pequot Lakes. He is survived by his wife, Diane; daughters, Connie (Bert) Kelher of Sierra Vista, AZ, Cathy (Mark) Miller of Sioux Falls, SD, and Teresa (Keith) Kvistad of Belle Plaine, MN; grandchildren, Stefanie (Aaron Moland) Miller of San Antonio, TX, Jacob Kvistad of Chicago, IL, and Levi Kvistad of Belle Plaine, MN; sister, Carol Rudlang and brother, Richard Hartwig both of Pequot lakes; as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Monday, August 3rd, 2026, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes. A visitation will be held the hour prior to the service.