Mass of Christian Burial for Alvin George Hartman, age 97, of Muenster, was held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 

Pallbearers were Nolan Hartman, Travis Sutton, Lance Hillis, Mark Tompkins, David Tompkins, and Jackie Wolf. Mr. Hartman passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.

If Alvin could be summed up in one word, it would be the word he used most: ‘Wonderful.’ That’s how Alvin lived. That’s how he loved. That’s how he served. 

To Alvin, every day was a wonderful gift from God—never bad, only good, better, or best. Alvin didn’t just live life to the fullest—he lived a life full of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

Alvin was born on Jan. 29, 1928, to William ‘Victor’ and Margaret (Bayer) Hartman, the eldest of eight children. Alvin attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated in 1946.

Alvin’s First Holy Communion came on Dec. 8, 1935.

The following summer, Alvin started instruction to become an altar boy. 

Alvin’s faithfulness remained unwavering and continued to grow just as he did. He was a constant presence at daily Masses, novenas, rosaries, Adoration, Men’s Holy Hour, Confession and more. Over the years, Alvin served on the Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery Committee and various capital campaign committees for the church, high school, and convent. He volunteered at all the parish picnics and served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.

He was even good buddies with Bishop Michael Olson, who sent his condolences and personally offered Mass for Alvin, stating what a good man he was and what a beautiful family he had. 

Alvin was a blessing to many and, in turn, received extraordinary blessings himself. Most notably, he received two papal blessings from the late Pope Francis. 

Alvin met the love of his life, Joanie Felderhoff, on her high school senior trip to Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1950. Alvin had recently graduated high school and volunteered to drive the bus. On that trip, Joanie caught Alvin’s eye and not long after, the opportunity arose during a summer outing for Alvin to give Joanie a ride home from “across the river,” and he took it.

Alvin and Joanie married two years later on June 5, 1952. The new Sacred Heart Church was still under construction, so their Nuptial Mass was held in the old Parish Hall officiated by Joanie’s uncle, Father Henry Felderhoff.

Joanie and Alvin were married and made their forever home in the classic red-and-white house at 208 North Oak Street. They were blessed with three children: Monica, married to Coach Jon LeBrasseur; Bobby, married to the former Sharlene Pagel; and Kenny, married to the former Rhonda Endres. They also have seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Later in life, Alvin and Joanie made a daily trip to the farm after having breakfast at Kountry Korner. Every morning as they drove up the hill past the store, Alvin would take Joanie’s hand and say, “Have I told you that I love you today?”—followed by a kiss on her hand. After Joanie passed in 2023, Alvin often shared that story. He missed her dearly and visited her at the cemetery every single day.

Alvin and Joanie also loved to travel—visiting all 50 states and many countries abroad—making fond memories and friends wherever they went. 

Among the most distinguished moments of his travels was when Congressman Ralph Hall personally escorted Alvin to the White House and entrusted him with the honor of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Alvin had the most joyful servant’s heart. One of his greatest dedications in life was to Sacred Heart Catholic School. Along with being an avid Tiger fan and generous supporter, he put in decades of hard work at the school. 

Alvin drove the bus for 27 years and proudly recorded stats on the sidelines for the Sacred Heart Tiger football team for 71 years, beginning in 1951. 

Through the decades, his statistics were published in the Muenster Enterprise, Gainesville Daily Register, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and more.

Alvin also helped get the Sacred Heart football program started and, as co-captain, took the field as a running back for the first-ever Sacred Heart Tiger football game in 1945. Coached by Father John Walbe, O.S.B., Alvin helped secure uniforms, lay out the football field, install goalposts, and later helped build the fence and bleachers. After graduating, Alvin still played football for the Tigers. 

Alvin showed up to every Tiger and Tigerette sporting event.

Alvin was an officer of the Sacred Heart Alumni Association, a member of the Sacred Heart School Board, a trustee for the Sacred Heart Trust Fund, and helped with countless school maintenance projects. He was a member of the Fort Worth Diocesan School Board and chosen by Sacred Heart as the 2007 Catholic School Honoree.

He played men’s fast-pitch softball from age 20 to 40, a highly competitive sport in the 1950s. He suited up for several local league teams, including the Bezner Chicks and the B-29 Bombers. 

Alvin began his career at the Muenster Enterprise on Sept 23, 1946. He retired from the Enterprise three times—punching in 78 years of service on his final time sheet. He held nearly every position in the building—from sportswriter and composition man to pressman, editor, and ad salesperson.

Alvin is survived by; daughter: Monica and husband Jon LeBrasseur; sons: Bobby and wife Sharlene Hartman, and Kenny and wife Rhonda Hartman; grandchildren: Kristin LeBrasseur, Shannon Hartman, Dainah Hartman, Chris Pagel, Holly and husband Lance Hillis, Courtney and husband Travis Sutton, and Nolan Hartman; great grandchildren: Parker, Ava, Asher, and Aiden Hillis, Walker, Witten, and Blakely Sutton, Indigo and Willow Dyer, and Cody Moster; sisters: Pat Yosten, Georgia Wolf, Edna Tompkins; and brother: Gene Hartman. 

Alvin was preceded in death by the love of his life Joanie (March 19, 2023); his parents: Victor and Margaret Hartman; sisters: Kathryn Gremminger, Della Schmitt; and brother Willard Hartman.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Sacred Heart Catholic School or Sacred Heart Trust Fund.