Bartel, Peter Samuel (1921-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Jun p. 21

Birth date: 1921 Mar 14, Kansas
Date of Death: 2008 May 26, Kansas

text of obituary:

PETER SAMUEL BARTEL

Peter Samuel Bartel, 87, of Wichita, Kan., died May 26, 2008. He was born March 14, 1921, to Peter and Anna Schmidt Bartel in Marion County.

He grew up on a farm and attended a one-room school. He graduated with honors from Bethel College in North Newton in 1943.

As a conscientious objector to war, he joined a Relief Training Unit at Goshen (Ind.) College to prepare to serve in war-torn areas at the end of World War II as he waited to be drafted. Once drafted he was assigned to Civilian Public Service in Downey, Idaho, and helped dig irrigation ditches. Later he did CPS work in Mulberry, Fla., on a hookworm prevention program, and in California as education director in a veteran’s hospital. After World War II, he went to Germany with Mennonite Central Committee to help feed many people in the Krefeld area.

He returned to Kansas in December 1948, and MCC hired him to set up voluntary service programs in Kansas and Oklahoma. Then, after marrying Amanda, they moved to WaKeeney, where he taught math and science in the high school for two years. They then moved to Iowa City, where he earned a master’s degree at the University of Iowa. After this he taught physics at Bethel College for three years. After a year at the University of Kansas, he went back to high school teaching at Wichita West High School. In 1965 he began teaching at Wichita State University, where he taught until retiring in 1989.

He was a member of Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church of Wichita. He was involved with children in Indian Guides, Boy Scouts and later ice hockey. His Science Foundation summer study grants took he and his family all over the country. In 1983 the city of Krefeld, Germany, invited him to accept their thanks for MCC’s relief work.

Survivors include his wife, Amanda; a son, Charles; a daughter, Deborah; three grandsons and a great-granddaughter.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Hillsboro, Kansas
Son of Peter and Anna (Schmidt) Bartel
Married Amanda Ediger 1949 August 12, Buhler, Kansas
Physics teacher -- Bethel College 1953-1956, WSU

Bethel alumni note:
Bethel College BA 1943

Photo holdings:
Individual -- 2 photos
Individual -- c. 1954 (2 copies)

Sources:
Alumni card
Grandma Online Profile #31484
Find A Grave 30424911