Marguerite E (Haven) Hartl

Marguerite Erskine(nee Haven)Hartl, age 96, passed away on September 14, 2021.  Marguerite was preceded in death by her husband, Max Edward Hartl and her parents Emeline Westinghouse(nee Crannell)and Edward Garrison Haven.  Marguerite was born on February 25, 1925 in Schenectady, NY and graduated from Scotia High School in 1942.  In 1945,at age 20, she graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, attending the university for 3 continuous years during WWII.  She began working for General Electric in Schenectady, NY in the Flight Test Center, testing jet engines.Soon after, she worked for Max Hartlat General Electric whom she married in 1946.  They were married in Scotia, NY by her grandfather, the Reverend Sherman Willard Haven of Rochester, NY and remained married for 66 years.

Marguerite continued to work for General Electric until 1948.  Her life then followed the career of her husband which took them and their young family to New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois.  Her love of mechanical engineering was a family tradition which she shared with her brother, General Electric aviator father, great uncle Professor George Bartholomew Haven of Pratt Institute, and great-great Uncle George Westinghouse, Jr.  This passion was passed to her son and grandson Nicholas and Derek Hartl who became mechanical engineers.  Her life was also filled with the love of raising her five children and her spiritual devotion to the Presbyterian Church.Marguerite was a member and served the Community Presbyterian Church of Mt. Prospect, Illinois for over 50 years.  She was a Session member, treasurer, and taught Sunday school.  That love extended to her grandchildren who called her, Nana.

As a child, “Miki” spent her summers in Cloverdale and Pilot Knob at Lake George in New York with her family and her beloved 12-foot wooden boat with a 1 horsepower outboard motor that she maintained.  With her own family, Marguerite and her husband gathered at many differentbeautiful locations in the United States for summer trips andreunions and often visited New York state relatives.Marguerite and Max traveled to all 50 United States, many places around the world, and visited all of the Presidential Libraries.  They also attended numerous George Westinghouse, Jr. family reunions in Pittsburg, PA.

Marguerite will be fondly remembered for her caring patient nature, love for children, family, and friends, gifted mind, keen wit, and adventuresome personality.  She was a voracious reader, excellent swimmer, talented knitter,lover of music, and played the piano.  Her children also enjoyed her Scouting leadership and mentoring in math, science, music, and the French and English languages.

Marguerite waspreceded in death by her brother Sherman Edward Haven.  Surviving her are her brother’s children Melissa, Sue, Jon, Allison, and Todd; her first cousins Hall and Winn Crannell, George Haven, Jr., and Betty and David Ewell.  Also, surviving her are her daughter Kristin Hartl of Dallas, TX; her two sons Nicholas(Leslie)Hartl of Morgan Hill, CA and Douglas(Brenda)Hartl of Plano, TX, and her two daughters Amy(Bradley)Sherman of Glen Ellyn, IL, and Rebecca(Paul)Spiegel of Malibu, CA; her 11 grandchildren, Katherine(Stephen)Schwartfeger, Derek(Sachi)Hartl, Julia(Darrin)Whittaker, Benjamin Hartl, Brittany(Zach)Willeford, Cody and Dylan Sherman, Rio and Dax Bonney, Jennifer Fullam, Michael (Madeline O’Sullivan)Fullamand 8 great grandchildren.

The Hartl family is grateful to the staff members at Lutheran Village of Arlington Heights, IL, Charter Senior Living of Glen Ellyn, and 1776 Senior Care for their care of Marguerite over the past 9 years. 

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