Bartel, George (1934-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Jul 15 p. 8

Birth date: 1934 Aug 8

text of obituary:

GEORGE BARTEL

George Bartel, 67, died June 22, 2002, at his residence near Morris, Man. He was born Aug. 8, 1934, at Meade, Kan.

He married Lena "Lillie" Loewen of Rosenort, Man., on Oct. 24, 1954. Their first three years were spent in Denver, Colo., where he served as a conscientious objector.

In 1957 they moved to Riverside to take up cattle and grain farming. In 1984, due to a tornado and hailstorm, God opened the doors to begin a grain hauling business, which is now Bartel Bulk Freight.

At a young age he made a profession of faith, followed by baptism in his teenage years. His faith was important to him, as was evident by his regular church attendance, reading Daily Bread and being an MCC representative and EMC delegate.

Because of his compassion for people, he went on several mission trips, including Lithuania, Little Rock, Ark., and Nicaragua.

He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1995. In January 2001 he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which was followed by surgery and six months of chemotherapy treatments. At that time he was given a clean bill of health. In February 2002 he was admitted into Morris Hospital for three weeks due to a blood clot. At this time tests revealed that the cancer had spread and he was given less than a year to live. He went home, where his family took care of him until his death.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Lillie; his children, Marcy Kornelsen and her husband, Abe, of Steinbach; Clare Nernberg and her husband, Allan, of Sabetha, Kan.; Chester Bartel and his wife, Ruth, Lynn Bartel and his wife, Betty, Arletta Boulton and her husband, James, and Gaylene Siemens and her husband, Leighton, all of the Morris area; three sisters, Marie Bryant, Sara Reimer, Margaret Bartel; two brothers, John and Dick; 19 grandchildren and a great-grandson.

He was preceded in death by a son, Dudley, and a granddaughter.