Erma Maxine Hatch

Erma Hatch age 79 of Tracy, MN died Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at her home in Tracy. A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until time of service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in the spring of 2010. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Erma Maxine Hatch was born May 2, 1930 to Fred and Ilo (Moore) Kassel in Holly Township, Murray County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at the Holly Methodist Church, rural Walnut Grove, MN. As a young girl she attended Walnut Grove Public Schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1948. After high school Erma attended Mankato Beauty College and then returned to Tracy, MN. In 1951 Erma was crowned Miss Tracy during the annual Box Car Day celebration. On July 25, 1952 Erma married Robert D. Hatch at Tracy United Methodist Church. They made their home in Tracy and Erma worked as a beautician in Tracy for a local hairdresser from 1949 until 1952, when she opened her own business called Jolene’s Beauty Shop. She continued to operate the business until her death. She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church and active in the church women’s groups. Besides her business that kept her busy all these years, her greatest love was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. On Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Erma died peacefully at her home in Tracy at the age of 79. Erma is survived by her two daughters, Jolene (Jim) Ott of Urbandale, IA, Mari Jo (Paul) Johnson of Brookings, SD; one son, Duane (Denise) Hatch of Bull Head City, AZ; five grandchildren, Brad (Erin) Ott and Marc Ott, Justin Johnson, Jessica Shaw, and Heather Stanaway; one great granddaughter, Lydia Gay; two sisters, Bev (Melvin) Hubbard of Tracy, MN and Melba Carlson of Concord, CA; one brother, Francis (Ludema) Kassel of Tracy, MN; one sister-in-law, Eunice Kassel of Walnut Grove, MN; one brother-in-law, Dale (Maureen) Hatch of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews and friends. Her husband, Bob of 52 years, her parents, one brother, Dale Kassel and one brother-in-law, Ed Carlson preceded here in death.