Christopher Haertling

NEW WELLS, Mo. — Christopher Todd Haertling, 51, of New Wells passed away Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, after a 43-day courageous battle with COVID.

He was born Aug. 22, 1970, in Chaffee, Missouri, to Vernon and Norma Richter Haertling. He was baptized Sept. 6, 1970, and confirmed April 15, 1984, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells. He was a 1988 graduate of Jackson High School.

Christopher and Amy Gentry were married Aug. 26, 2000, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, also the church of their longtime membership. Two children were born to their union, Allison Claire and Jackson Lee Haertling.

Christopher was the owner/operator of Haertling Farms in New Wells and a farm seed sales representative, working under Mike Triefenbach, for NuTech Seed. He was a former member of the Cape County Farm Bureau Board, serving as president for one year, and former member of the Co-op Board in Jackson.

He is remembered as a Cardinals baseball fan, a history buff (especially the Civil War era), the nicknames he would give family and friends, and loving to dance with his family to the two-step, waltz and the polka. He especially loved to bottle-raise calves with his kids and work alongside his nephew and godson, Blake Peiffer.

Survivors of Christopher's family include his loving wife of 21 years, Amy Haertling, and their children, Allison and Jackson of New Wells; four siblings, Glenda (Tom) Nations and Connie (Dan) Peiffer of Jackson, Bonnie (Bob) Schulte of Troy, Missouri, and Stanley (Chris) Haertling of New Wells; nephews and nieces, R.J. (Madeline) Schulte, Megan (Matt) Moore, Amanda Peiffer, Blake Peiffer, Anna (Robin) Clearman and Brett (Jamie) Haertling; and great-nephews and -niece, Thomas, Landon and Zoey.

Amy's surviving family includes her mother, Karen Gentry of Jackson; her sisters, Lori (Brent) Wills and Jill (Brad) Noel of Jackson; nephews and nieces, Kyla Naeter, Brandon (Haley) Wills, Lindsey and Jason Noel, all of Jackson; and a great-nephew, Nathan Naeter.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Glenn Haertling; his father-in-law, James Gentry; and his brother-in-law, Jason Gentry.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The Rev. Joshua Schmidt will conduct the funeral service at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Serving as pallbearers will be Stanley Haertling, Blake Peiffer, Bobby Haertling, Clayton Steffens, Mike Tuschhoff, Tom Sachse, Mike Triefenbach and Dave Wichern.

The Haertling family would like to thank the nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists who cared for Christopher. They would like to especially thank Drs. Schaun Flaim and Gretchen Price Flaim for their compassion and Christian hearts.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran School, St. Paul Lutheran Church or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the "Tribute Wall" tab of Christopher's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.