Helen Emily Hartman, age 85, of Lincoln, NE, former resident of Paxton, passed away, Sunday, October 18, 2020 at her home in Lincoln.

Emily was born July 2, 1935 to Marion D. and Emma (Engelhardt) Hemphill in Tekama, Nebraska.

Emily grew up in Tekama where she graduated from High School in 1953. She was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Tekahma. In 1957, she graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she was a member o the Chi Omega sorority. While at the University, Emily was vice-president of the Associated Women's Students Board, vice-president of Pi Lambda Theta, teachers college honorary and a member of Tassels and the Ivy Day Court.

On October 20, 1957 she was united in marriage to George Hartman, Jr. at the Presbyterian Church in Tekama. They lived in O'Neill, NE for a year and a half where George was an assistant county agent and Emily taught the fourth grade. They moved to the family farm in Paxton where they farmed and raised cattle. Emily joined Trinity Lutheran Church on April 2, 1961. She taught confirmation, was an usher and greeter and belonged to the women's organization. She loved her church family and enjoyed working with them. 

Emily taught speech therapy in Sutherland, NE for a year, and then began a 28 year career as a special education teacher at Paxton School, retiring in 1997. After retirement she was a substitute teacher at Paxton and Sutherland for several years.

She was a member of the Paxton Library Board when the new library was built in 2002. She was an avid reader and enjoyed belonging to the Paxton Little Book Club and the Friends of the Library. Emily also was a member of the Paxton Garden Club. She was a sports fan, and attended many Husker football, basketball and volleyball games with her family, and many Paxton school sports, speech, and music events. She also attended her grandchildren's sports events as often as she could. Emily moved to Lincoln in 2014 and enjoyed making many new friends, playing cards, and her daily walks. 

Her husband and family were her greatest joy, and spending time with them was very important to her. 

Emily is survived by her sons; John (Kathy) Hartman, of Phillips, NE; Kirk (Linda) Hartman, of Lincoln; 4 grandchildren; Ryan (Bre) Hartman, of Castle Rock, CO; Nathan (Bobbi) Hartman, of Kearney; Megan Hartman; Cole Hartman, both of Lincoln; and six great-grandchildren; Brooks, Miles, Mia, Lily, Wyatt and Wesley.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and sisters, June Cowles and Barbara Mark.

Visitation will be held, Wednesday, October 21, 2020 from 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (M.T.) with family greeting friends from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (M.T.) in the Draucker Funeral Home Chapel in Ogallala.

A Graveside Service will be held Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. (M.T.) in the Paxton Cemetery in Paxton, NE with Pastor JA Welsh of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paxton officiating. 

A memorial has been established to the Paxton Library and the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paxton. 

Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com by clicking the Share a Memory or Tribute Wall button.

Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.