Bartel, Walter Donald 1923-2012

BARTEL, FRIEDRICKS, HARRIS

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/3/2012 at 19:37:43

Walter Bartel

(August 2, 1923 - October 21, 2012)

Walter Bartel, 89, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday October 26, 2012 at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. Thursday with a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Walter Donald Bartel was born on August 2, 1923 in Picketts, Wisconsin, the son of Walter Sylvester and Marjory (Friedricks) Bartel. After graduating from Green Lake High School, Walt enrolled in the University of Wisconsin at Platteville. He earned his degree in education and took his first teaching position in Wisconsin at Readstown High School where he taught Vocational Agriculture and Chemistry.

On January 20, 1951 Walt and Mildred Harris were united in marriage at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Viroqua, Wisconsin. From 1950 to 1960 Walt taught VO AG in Wisconsin. He worked as a salesman for PAG Seeds and Massey Ferguson farm equipment. In 1965, Walt and Millie moved to Le Mars, Iowa. Walt took position with Colonial Manor Nursing Homes in Sioux City, Iowa. He covered the western states and performed feasibility studies in communities needing care for the elderly. After a few years with Colonial Manor, Walt switched careers and began work with Harvestore selling silos to area farmers.

After Harvestore closed, Walt taught Parks and Golf Course Management at Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City and was a substitute teacher at Le Mars Community High School. Throughout the years he operated a lawn care business with his son Tony and assisted at Bartel Floral. Walt also operated Lucky Putts miniature golf next to the flower shop.

Walt was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars where he ushered and carved turkeys at the annual smorgasbord. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Eagles Club in Le Mars. In his spare time he loved to fish, hunt and play cards.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Millie of Le Mars, IA; son, Jim Bartel of Le Mars, IA; son, Tony Bartel and his wife Desi of Glenwood, IA; daughter, Pam Rolling and her husband Russ of Oyens, IA, son, Steve Bartel of Castana, IA, a daughter Michelle Meyers and her husband Jim of Sioux City, IA, a daughter, Marcia Conley and her husband John of Shawnee, KS; grandchildren, Justin (Angel) Weidman, Brian (Shevon) Bartel, Andrea (Geovanny) Pantoja, Kayla Bartel, Eric Bartel, Scott (Shanelle) Rolling, Stacey Kliever, David Rolling, Ashley Bartel, Rachelle (Chad) Kiepe, Curt (Heather) Meyers, Mariah Meyers, Ryan Meyers, Elizabeth Conley, J.P. Conley, Caroline Conley; great-grandchildren, Haley, Dillon and Elijah Weidmann, Liliana Pantoja, Mason Harper, Trent, Sarah, Amber and Brooke Kliever, Kylee and Brycen Rolling, Landon Kiepe, Taryn and Kellan Meyers; and a brother Martin “Bud” Bartel of Green Lake, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, James and Robert.

Mauer-Johnson Earnest Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa