Lawrence Bartels

Lawrence William Bartels was born March 1, 1918, the son of Willam A. and Alma Mohr Bartels. He passed away Monday, September 3, 2012, at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 94.
Lawrence was born in Ute, Iowa. He attended country school near his home. On November 9, 1938, Lawrence was united in marriage to Larue Bielenberg at the Zion Lutheran Parsonage in Denison, Iowa. The couple farmed for several years and were blessed with the birth of six children. Lawrence worked for Crawford County Road Department for five years, and also the City of Schleswig and Schleswig Lumber in Schleswig, Iowa. He drove school bus for Schleswig Schools for nine years, ran Bartels Bakery in Schleswig for 10 years; was the janitor at Immanuel Lutheran Church; and managed the Schleswig Community Building and the Schleswig Golf Course before he retired. Lawrence enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and dancing.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, LaRue in 1990; two sisters, Helene Frerichs and Esther Gran; and son-in-law, Linus Wessling. Survivors include three sons: Robert Bartels and his wife, Carolyn of Columbia, Missouri; Larry Bartels and his wife, Cindy of Denver, Missouri; and Dennis Bartels and his wife, Beth of Miami, Florida; three daughters: Dorothy Wessling of Mapleton, Iowa; Patricia Knutzen and her husband, Craig of Raymore, Missouri; and Deborah Ritsch and her husband, Chris of Omaha, Nebraska; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Clara Amunson of Lawton, Iowa; his best friend, Christine Teut of Schleswig, Iowa; other relatives and friends.