Date of death: 6/2/2012
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1954
Dr. Joseph Edward Hartung, 84, of Fayetteville, Georgia, died June 2, 2012 at the Emory Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia.He was born January 7, 1928, in Louisville, KY, the son of the late Ina Cole and Joseph Linus Hartung. Joe had 4 siblings, Bill, Norbert, Helen, and Inez, who died in infancy. He was a devout Catholic who often started his day at Mass.He attended St. Mary’s College, Saint Meinrad Seminary, and the University of Louisville, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy, theology, and psychology. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany in the 1950’s serving as a news reporter.When his oldest son Joe was discovered to be deaf, he moved the family to St. Louis, MO. He received a master’s degree in audiology and earned his doctorate in communication disorders at Washington University.Joe was a professor at Georgia State University, from which he retired in 1996. He initiated the Deaf Education Program at GSU in 1968. He was also on the planning committee for the construction of the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. While a professor, he traveled to China and taught teachers how to work with deaf and hard of hearing children. His passions included watching Atlanta Braves baseball, Falcons football, University of Kentucky basketball, and anything Notre Dame.He is survived by 4 of his 5 sons, Joseph F of Mt. Airy, MD, John E of Danville, CA, Jason C of Atlanta, GA, and Matthew R Hartung of Delray Beach, FL, 3 daughters-in-law, Jennifer, Marla and Tracy, 5 grandchildren, Luke, Hannah, Joseph, Courtney and Cameron, his ex-wife, but dear friend, Rosemary Muff” Curry Hartung, and sister Helen Simmons of Louisville, KY.Joe was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Gander Hartung, of Atlanta, GA, and his third son, Mark Stephen Hartung, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. His siblings Bill, Norbert and Inez also preceded him in death.A funeral mass will be held at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro, GA on Wednesday, June 6, at 11:00 am. There will be a luncheon following the mass at the church. Burial will be at the Honey Creek Woodlands at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf, Georgia School for the Deaf, Fayette County Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program, or to the St. Philip Benizi Endowment Fund, in Joe’s memory.Provided via Google Plus.”