Thomas Gordon BARTELS

1932 - 2015

BARTELS, Thomas G. Thomas Gordon Bartels, dear husband, father and grandfather passed away after a long illness on March 27th. Tom was born on August 24, 1932 to Gordon and Violet Bartels in Rockford, Illinois and grew up there and in nearby Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It was there that his love of sailing began and where he began racing sailboats at the age of 8 years. His love of the water found him on swim teams both in High School and at Lake Forest College in Illinois where he graduated in 1954. Tom continued his education at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, but his studies were interrupted by a call from the draft board, Tom entered O.C.S. and served four years of active duty in the U.S. Navy aboard ship. After leaving the Navy, Tom was part owner of a printing company in Rockford where he worked for 25 years before semi-retiring. Tom was talented in many ways and was always working on what he referred to as his latest project which included a wide variety such as landscaping or home renovation. Tom was an enthusiastic snow skier and for many years could be found skiing somewhere in Colorado with family and/or friends and continued to do so into his mid 70's. Tom moved to the Atlanta area in 1983 and resided in Stone Mountain for a few years before settling in Johns Creek and was a long time member of St. Luke's Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody. He was predeceased by his parents, Gordon and Violet Bartels, a daughter Tamara Baker, and a son-in-law Greg Melton. He is survived by his wife, Mary Alyce, his children Steven Bartels and wife Pamela of Des Moines, Iowa, Lise Melton of Des Moines, Nancy Kunkel and Husband Joseph Kunkel of Richmond, Virginia, Theresa Inglima and husband Jerrold Inglima of Alpharetta, sister Sally Jouris and husband Gary Jouris of Naples, Florida and 14 grandchildren. The family is grateful for all the wonderful care that he received at Sunrise Senior Living and Agape Hospice during his illness. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 31 at Roswell Funeral Home from 4PM until 8PM. Funeral services will be held at St. Lukes Presbyterian Chapel on Wednesday April 1, 2015 at 2PM, followed by the internment at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the charity of your choice.