William Earl "Bill" Hartwell

William Earl Hartwell, 79, of Omaha, NE passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024, of natural causes.

A Military Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Monday, April 8, 2024, at the Omaha National Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, Iowa.   Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bill was born July 12, 1944, in Monroe, LA, the son of William and Mary Lee (Woods) Hartwell.   He graduated from East Side High School in Farmerville, LA in 1962.  

After graduation, Bill enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1963, and during his 20-year service, he was stationed at Barksdale AFB, Wright Patterson AFB, the Pentagon, RAF Lakenheath in the UK, Offutt AFB, Oakland, CA, and Omaha, NE.  He also did one tour in Vietnam and was a Still Photographic Camera Specialist.  Bill married Leola Warren in 1963.  He married Ann Neal in 1979.  He became an ordained Mennonite minister in 1988 and served as a prison minister for the Nebraska State Penitentiary from 2000-2010.

Survivors include his brother Jerome Hartwell of Fort Worth, TX, sister Jacquelyn Brown of Downsville, LA, brother Harold Hartwell of Arcadia, LA, brother A.L. Brown, daughter Savitra Hartwell of Tuscaloosa, AL, son Tyler Hartwell of Sioux City, three grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father William Hartwell, mother Mary Lee Brown, brother Kenneth Brown, and sister Sharonda Brown.