Bryce Bartu

1936 - 2016

Bryce Bartu, 80, of Grand Island, formerly of Seward, passed away Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016, with his family by his side.
  A celebration of life will be Monday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home, Grand Island. Daniel Naranjo will officiate. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. at Douglas Grove Cemetery, Comstock.
Visitation will take place 3 - 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at the funeral home.
Bryce was born Feb. 13, 1936, in Comstock, to Adolph and Joyce (Havlik) Bartu. He graduated from Comstock High School, class of 1953, of which he was a proud member of the Class D State Champion Football Team in 1952. He went on to attend the University of Nebraska where he was a member of the UNL marching band and the Kappa Sigma fraternity until he was needed on the family farm and he returned home.
Bryce was united in marriage to Phyllis Fisher on March 24, 1957. After farming in Comstock with his parents for several years Bryce, Phyllis and their young family moved to Manhattan, Kan., where he attended Kansas State University. In 1964, Bryce transferred back to the University of Nebraska where he attended Law school and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1968. Bryce then practiced law in Seward until 1977 when he was appointed to the District Court Bench by Governor Jim Exon. He served as the District Court Judge for the 5th Judicial District until his retirement in 1995.
Bryce's interests and extracurricular activities were diverse and extensive.  He was a member of the Nebraska Bar Association, National Farmers Organization, Christmas Tree Growers Association, and the Elks. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, with Elk hunting being his true passion. His outdoor activities included many trips to many states with wonderful lifelong friends and family.  He loved to travel with his wife and they truly saw the world hand in hand. His Sunday morning routine always included the Big Joe Polka Show on the radio.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 59 years, Phyllis; children, Deborah McMillian, John and Jackie Bartu and Brenda Bartu, all of Grand Island; his beloved grandchildren, Bryce James Bartu of Boulder, Colo., Caitlin and Nathan Stahlnecker, of Grand Island, Taylor and Justin Brase, of Superior, Austin Beswick of Grand Junction, Colo., and Kellie Beswick of Lincoln; and sister, Maxine Brass of Kearney.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Vera Marie Bartu; granddaughter, Amber Weitzel; and his beloved yellow lab, Kody.
Memorials are suggested to The Comstock Den Inc.
Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com