BARTELS, Irene Elsie (Opat) 1919-2017

BARTELS, OPAT, KUBICEK

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/28/2017 at 09:23:28

Irene Elsie Bartels, age 97, of Riceville, Iowa, passed away at the Riceville Family Care & Therapy Center on February 26, 2017.

Irene Elsie Opat Bartels was born on the farm near Elma on April 4, 1919 to John and Elsie (Kubicek) Opat. She attended rural schools and received her Normal Training Certificate from Cresco High School. She taught in rural schools in Howard and Paris townships for three years.

On February 20, 1943, she was united in marriage to Clarence Bartels in a chapel at Camp Walters, Fort Worth, Texas, where Clarence was stationed in the Army She lived with Clarence at several army camps until he went overseas for three years. Clarence came home from service in January of 1946 and they started farming near Elma and later bought his parent's farm near Maple Leaf. They farmed there until 1998 when they moved to Riceville. Clarence entered the nursing home in Riceville and Irene moved into an apartment.

To this union three children were born: Fred (Marlys) of Riceville, Iowa, Jim (Kathy) of Chatfield, Minnesota, and Connie (Brad Bucknell) of Cresco, Iowa; ten grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was a noble woman, housewife, mother, grandmother, farm hand, teacher, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, club member, American Legion member and loved to play cards. She survived cancer three times, an F4 tornado and WWII while dad was stationed in Germany and prayed for everyone always. Today we honor her.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence, one brother, two sisters and one grandson.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home website