Christine Hartung gently passed away August 27, 2023 at Freeport Memorial Hospital.  She was born June 14, 1952 to Bruno Silkowski and Lottie Skalon in Chicago.  She excelled in high school, loving ballet and cheerleading, and graduated as valedictorian of her class at Wells High School.  She went on to a career as an RN, leaving that career as a charge nurse at a busy city hospital in 1991 to live in the country in Stephenson County, Illinois.  She never forgot her early years in the city with numerous cousins and her first family,  Holidays especially would re-open those early life memories.

She married Tom Hartung August 14, 1992, and began to put all that behind her and learn rural ways.  She became a substitute school teacher in districts in Illinois and Monroe, Wisconsin, retiring from that career in 2006.

She became passionate about the land and nature when she settled into country life.  She and her husband planted hundreds of trees on their patch of land, and in later years became devoted to making native plant communities to nurture the littlest creatures.  She joined Audubon and learned even more about the birds and bees, and their needs.   She loved people and made friends as a teacher and as an Audubon member.  In later years she became a weaver and ardent student of the fiber arts.  She also met folks at the Monroe YMCA aquacise classes and loved the friends she made there.

Christine had a deep spiritual interest.  She read deeply and widely as she learned traditions in addition to Christianity  She was also fascinated with astrology and meditation, but she kept her beliefs and spiritual side to herself so that she might not put off or offend others.

She was predeceased by her parents, Bruno and Lottie, and her brother, Teddy.

She is survived by her husband. her (step)sons, Graham (Heather) Hartung now of Crete Illinois, and Garth (Mary) Hartung residing in Earlville Il.  She also leaves behind her beloved (step)grandchildren (4) and cousins all over the country as well as friends she made everywhere in life.