Johanna Lore Gartenhaus passed away March 16, 2023 at the age of 90 at her residence in West Lafayette, IN. Jo was born on July 26, 1932 in Bonn, Germany, to Berthold and Bertha Weisz. They lived as a family near her grandparents, Morris and Johanna Heumann, in Selm, Germany. After Kristallnacht, her father escapedContinue Reading
Vasanti and Anant Ramdas
left a message on March 21, 2023:
Our sincere condolences to the family of Jo Gartenhaus. We knew Jo and Sol for many years, as Sol and Anant were colleagues in the Physics department. Jo and Sol were always warm and friendly, and we had many good times together with them.
Manuel Villa
left a message on March 20, 2023:
If there is a name that has been a cornerstone in my and my family’s life, that is Gartenhaus.
Jo and Sol met my parents over 50 years ago in West Lafayette, when my father came to Purdue from Mexico for a Ph.D. He and my mother where in their mid 20s, had been married for about a year, barely spoke English, had yet no children and did not know a soul in Indiana. Little did everyone know that they were about to have a new family in the Gartenhaus. Jo, Sol, Michael and Kevin knew me literally since I was born. I grew up calling Jo and Sol “tía” and “tío” (“uncle” and “aun” in Spanish.)
For more summers than I can remember, I came to visit Jo and Sol at their home in 444 Littleton Street. First it was me, then my sisters also came in later years. Each time we would stay for a month or two. Jo and Sol also started visiting Mexico every year, where they would usually spend winter vacations with my family.
Those visits motivated Jo to create Garmex, a business importing and selling Mexican artwork and artisanal crafts. She and Sol traveled to many international festivals and bazaars around the Midwest for several years in this business. It was in that context that I got my first job, helping Jo prepare for one of those festivals during one of the summers that I was visiting them, in my early teens. I clearly remember the excitement of being paid for my work for the first time in my life.
Years later, in 2007, Jo and Sol would repeat their generosity. I then was engaged to Satomi, my beloved wife from Japan. Just as my parents three decades earlier, she barely spoke English and I asked Jo and Sol if it would be possible to have her with them for some time so she could learn the language. The response was an immediate and warm yes.
Last year, I had the pleasure and the honor to celebrate Jo’s 90th birthday with her, her daughter-in-law Jane and her granddaughter Lauren. And just a few weeks ago, my mother, my sisters, Satomi and I were fortunate enough to spend some of Jo’s last days with her at Westminster. The personnel worked around the clock to make her as comfortable as possible, and I will always be grateful to them.
As hard as it was to see Jo slowly fading a couple of weeks ago, she still managed to give us some hilarious memories. Even through she was sometimes in discomfort and she knew she was spending her last days on earth, she would still display her characteristic witty humor. When Satomi and I thanked her for everything in our lives and told her that we loved her, she responded with her eyes closed and in a low and weak voice: “Don’t love me too much.”
Jo, Sol, Mike and Kevin are no longer with us. But they left Jane, Kelly, Joseph, James, Matthew, Zack and Lauren are. Even after she is gone, we still have a lot to thank her for.
We love you, tía.
Manuel Villa
201-275-0941
Chaim & Alice Weissmann
left a message on March 20, 2023:
The Gartenhaus family was our adopted family when we were students at Purdue in the "70s. My wife and I met at Hillel where Jo was teaching a challah baking class. My wife Alice has used the same recipe every week for the last 52 years. We were regukar Shabbat afternoon guests at the Gartenhaus home and the whole familk attended our wedding. We now live in Israel and often recount the "Golden Years' at Purdue. Jo and Sol and Kevin and Michael wer a big part of those wonderful years. Jo will be sorely missed. Condolences to Jane and Katie and their children.
Maureen Murphy
left a message on March 18, 2023:
She was one of my mom's closest friends. They spent many a weekend together traveling.
The children of Corrine Rody
Maureen, Tim, Laureen, Shawn & Pat
Elizabeth Cohen
left a message on March 17, 2023:
Jo was a good friend to me and to my family for many, many years. As a holocaust survivor like my dad, our families shared a special bond. Jo and Sol were dealt a cruel hand by the deaths of both of their sons, Michael and Kevin, but with great inner strength carried on with so much dignity and a positive outlook. I hope that Jo, Sol, Michael, and Kevin are all reunited if there is an afterlife, and that Jo, my mother, and their friends are enjoying some great bridge games. I'll miss you, Jo.
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Joyce Field
left a message on March 17, 2023:
Jo was a special person—kind, generous, helpful, interested in others. Her unique gifts were a blessing to the community.
Joseph T. Krause
left a message on March 17, 2023:
A grand lady with an interesting history and a very fulfilling life story. One of the kindest persons I have ever met on this planet. She and her husband Sol were great friends who offered genuine hospitality to all. Both Jo Gartenhaus and her husband Sol knew what the most important issues were in our days and how to confront those problems with wisdom and patience! May Jo and Sol now rest in peace. Joe and Barbara Krause
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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Vasanti and Anant Ramdas
left a message on March 21, 2023:
Our sincere condolences to the family of Jo Gartenhaus. We knew Jo and Sol for many years, as Sol and Anant were colleagues in the Physics department. Jo and Sol were always warm and friendly, and we had many good times together with them.
Manuel Villa
left a message on March 20, 2023:
If there is a name that has been a cornerstone in my and my family’s life, that is Gartenhaus.
Jo and Sol met my parents over 50 years ago in West Lafayette, when my father came to Purdue from Mexico for a Ph.D. He and my mother where in their mid 20s, had been married for about a year, barely spoke English, had yet no children and did not know a soul in Indiana. Little did everyone know that they were about to have a new family in the Gartenhaus. Jo, Sol, Michael and Kevin knew me literally since I was born. I grew up calling Jo and Sol “tía” and “tío” (“uncle” and “aun” in Spanish.)
For more summers than I can remember, I came to visit Jo and Sol at their home in 444 Littleton Street. First it was me, then my sisters also came in later years. Each time we would stay for a month or two. Jo and Sol also started visiting Mexico every year, where they would usually spend winter vacations with my family.
Those visits motivated Jo to create Garmex, a business importing and selling Mexican artwork and artisanal crafts. She and Sol traveled to many international festivals and bazaars around the Midwest for several years in this business. It was in that context that I got my first job, helping Jo prepare for one of those festivals during one of the summers that I was visiting them, in my early teens. I clearly remember the excitement of being paid for my work for the first time in my life.
Years later, in 2007, Jo and Sol would repeat their generosity. I then was engaged to Satomi, my beloved wife from Japan. Just as my parents three decades earlier, she barely spoke English and I asked Jo and Sol if it would be possible to have her with them for some time so she could learn the language. The response was an immediate and warm yes.
Last year, I had the pleasure and the honor to celebrate Jo’s 90th birthday with her, her daughter-in-law Jane and her granddaughter Lauren. And just a few weeks ago, my mother, my sisters, Satomi and I were fortunate enough to spend some of Jo’s last days with her at Westminster. The personnel worked around the clock to make her as comfortable as possible, and I will always be grateful to them.
As hard as it was to see Jo slowly fading a couple of weeks ago, she still managed to give us some hilarious memories. Even through she was sometimes in discomfort and she knew she was spending her last days on earth, she would still display her characteristic witty humor. When Satomi and I thanked her for everything in our lives and told her that we loved her, she responded with her eyes closed and in a low and weak voice: “Don’t love me too much.”
Jo, Sol, Mike and Kevin are no longer with us. But they left Jane, Kelly, Joseph, James, Matthew, Zack and Lauren are. Even after she is gone, we still have a lot to thank her for.
We love you, tía.
Manuel Villa
201-275-0941
Chaim & Alice Weissmann
left a message on March 20, 2023:
The Gartenhaus family was our adopted family when we were students at Purdue in the "70s. My wife and I met at Hillel where Jo was teaching a challah baking class. My wife Alice has used the same recipe every week for the last 52 years. We were regukar Shabbat afternoon guests at the Gartenhaus home and the whole familk attended our wedding. We now live in Israel and often recount the "Golden Years' at Purdue. Jo and Sol and Kevin and Michael wer a big part of those wonderful years. Jo will be sorely missed. Condolences to Jane and Katie and their children.
Maureen Murphy
left a message on March 18, 2023:
She was one of my mom's closest friends. They spent many a weekend together traveling.
The children of Corrine Rody
Maureen, Tim, Laureen, Shawn & Pat
Elizabeth Cohen
left a message on March 17, 2023:
Jo was a good friend to me and to my family for many, many years. As a holocaust survivor like my dad, our families shared a special bond. Jo and Sol were dealt a cruel hand by the deaths of both of their sons, Michael and Kevin, but with great inner strength carried on with so much dignity and a positive outlook. I hope that Jo, Sol, Michael, and Kevin are all reunited if there is an afterlife, and that Jo, my mother, and their friends are enjoying some great bridge games. I'll miss you, Jo.
Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.
Joyce Field
left a message on March 17, 2023:
Jo was a special person—kind, generous, helpful, interested in others. Her unique gifts were a blessing to the community.
Joseph T. Krause
left a message on March 17, 2023:
A grand lady with an interesting history and a very fulfilling life story. One of the kindest persons I have ever met on this planet. She and her husband Sol were great friends who offered genuine hospitality to all. Both Jo Gartenhaus and her husband Sol knew what the most important issues were in our days and how to confront those problems with wisdom and patience! May Jo and Sol now rest in peace. Joe and Barbara Krause
left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.