Brent Bernard Bartos

Brent Bernard Bartos, 60, died unexpectedly due to a blood clot following a heart attack. He was a beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle. Brent had a great love for life and was always up for something fun.

Brent was born May 8, 1960 in Midland. He was one of four children, son of the late Bernard and Sharon (Brink) Bartos. He graduated from H. H. Dow High School in 1978 and from Ferris State University with an associate's degree in Industrial Electronics Design. In 2010, he married Judi Zima at Messiah Lutheran church in Midland.

Brent started his career working construction at Consumers Energy Nuclear Power Plant in Midland, MI. He went on to subsequently work nuclear power plant start-ups near San Luis Obispo, CA and Bay City, Texas. Brent returned to the Midland area in 1989 and worked on instrumentation design and maintenance at Hemlock Semiconductor and Dow Corning until he retired in 2016.

When Brent returned to Midland he resided on "The Land". Over the years the initial 40 acres Bernie started with grew to 120 acres that he and Brent bought and cared for. Brent enjoyed working on the land with his father, making roads, digging ditches, cutting down trees, hunting, planting rye fields, barbequing and co-hosting "The Land" parties twice a year in the gazebo with extended family and friends. When Grandpa Brink passed, Brent and Bernie took over making and tending to BIG fires in the outdoor fireplace. "The Land" embodied Sharon & Bernie's legacy of family and was their gathering place for over 30 years.

Like his Mom, Brent liked to travel and took many trips exploring the US. He also loved fireworks and he and his Aunt Joann and Uncle Terry McPeak traveled to pyrotechnic conferences around the US. Brent was a licensed pyrotechnician. In high school Brent started pilot lessons and earned a pilot's license to fly small aircraft. He also loved to go camping, jet skiing especially at Jim's cottage at Big Bass Lake, and to Florida.

Brent enjoyed being a kid and fun memories from his nieces and nephews include his candy jar, helium balloons, sliding down the dump trailer, making gingerbread houses, frosting cookies, snowmobiling, tractor rides, sledding, and all the fun at the land.

Brent was a member of the Midland Elks (and Eagles) and began a tradition of going every Thursday with his Grandpa Brink.

Close lifelong friends include "4th of July Jim" (Huffman), Brian Haskins, George and Lawrence Bartos.

Brent's surviving family includes his wife, Judi Bartos; his siblings: Bruce (Dawn) Bartos of Huntington Beach, CA, Sharla (Scott) DeFrain of Elk Rapids and Shannon (Greg) Striebel of Midland; and his eight nieces and nephews: Jared and Lindsey DeFrain, Noah and Matthew Bartos, and Jacob, Hannah, Nathaniel and Elizabeth Striebel.

He is also survived by his aunts and uncles: Lee (Cathy) Brink, JoAnn McPeak, Don Bartos, Margaret (Chuck) Gatza, Lucille Bartos, Katherine Cloutier, Janet (Mark) Nisbett; as well as several cousins and second cousins.

In addition to his parents, Bernard and Sharon Bartos, Brent was preceded in death by his aunts and uncles: Terry McPeak, Leo (Dominica) Bartos, Agnes (Jim) Garrett, Monica (Jim) Dryer, Florence Bartos, Barbara Bartos, and Doug Cloutier.

Close family and friends said their good-byes at a celebration of life for Brent on May 15th at his graveside. May he rest in peace.