Floyd Bartel

1924 - 2019

Floyd Bartel

Fremont - Floyd R. Bartel , age 94, of rural Fremont passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at Crossroads Care Center in Weyauwega. He was born to the late Erwin and Louise (Rucks) Bartel on December 16, 1924 in their farm home at Orihula in the Town of Wolf River, Winnebago County. He was baptized there on December 25, 1924. Floyd attended the local Bohren School until 6th grade when he became a student at St. John Lutheran School in East Bloomfield. He was confirmed at St. John's WELS church on April 10, 1938 by Pastor A.E. Schneider, who also officiated at his baptism. Floyd was a lifelong member of St. John's, where he served as an elder, trustee, and school board member and was currently the oldest gentleman of the congregation. He graduated from Weyauwega High School in 1943 and then served his country in the US Marine Corp from June 1944 until August 1946, participating in action on Okinawa and attaining the rank of Corporal. On October 10, 1947 Floyd married Geraldine Krenke at Christ Lutheran Church in West Bloomfield in a double wedding with Floyd's brother Vernon and Gerry's sister Verona. Together Floyd and Gerry farmed the Bartel family farm in Orihula for over 20 years. They had dairy cows, beef cattle, hogs, peacocks, quail, pheasants, chickens, ducks, two pet crows and a pet skunk. Later Floyd worked at Foremost Foods, Appleton, Taylor Cheese, Weyauwega and Wohlt Cheese in Fremont. He served on the School Board for the Bohren School for many years and was also a lifetime member of New London VFW. In his later years, he also entertained with his accordion at local events with Luella Struck as his drummer. They also played at the Weyauwega Health Care Center(now known as Crossroads Care Center), where Beata Peterson was the event coordinator. Floyd and Geraldine went on several bus trips throughout the USA, and they spent lots of time up north fishing for muskies. Floyd was an avid hunter, trapper and fisherman and he even found time to build several wooden fishing boats over the years. These skills he was proud to pass on to the next generations in his life. He also carried on his fathers method of smoking fish (especially carp)which became a small business in his retirement. When they left the family farm, the lived on the Wolf River for several years and then built a home on 37th Avenue, near Metz, where they have lived for the last 26 years. Despite his health problems he had the privilege there for all but one week which he spent at Crossroads Care Center, where he was cared for by Heartland Hospice. And the care he received was wonderful. As Floyd always said, "It could be worse"

Floyd leaves behind his family(who all live within a five mile radius), his wife of 71 years, Geraldine; two sons, Harley (Mary) Bartel, Claude (Vickie) Bartel; grandcildren, Mark (Darcy) Schoenick, Andy (Jessicah) Bartel, Suzie (Jeff) Sokulski, Wendy (Bart) Schuelke and Jon (Amy) Bartel; Great-grandchildren , Chelsea (Fiance' Seth Stuebs and his son, Ashton) Schoenick, Macey and Sam Schoenick , Rylee and Blake Bartel, Jagger and Malayna Solkulski, Hannah, Sophia and Sawyer Schuelke, Logan and Abby Bartel; his sister, Eveline Lippert; a sister-in-law, Verona Bartel; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Vernon; two sisters and three brothers-in-law, Rosa and Oscar Heise, Florence and Leslie Wohlt and Walter Lippert

Memorial Services will be held on Monday, July 15, 2019 at 11:00 am at St. John Lutheran Church, 8580 37th Ave., Fremont. Pastor Paul Fritz will officiate. Visitation will be held at St. John Lutheran Church on Monday, from 9:30 am until the time of service. Inurnment will be in Wolf River Cemetery. It was Floyd's wishes that no military rites were to be held. Memorials can be given to St. John's Lutheran Church or personal choice.