Cynthia K Bartel

Cynthia K. Bartel, 84, of Wausau, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 24, 2023. 

She was born on July 4, 1939, to the late Milton and Marguerite (Lowen) Goehring, in Menomonie, Wisconsin. Cynthia was the spitfire youngest of 3 daughters, growing up on the shores of Lake Menomin in Menomonie, WI. 

Cynthia was a proud Stout grad, class of 1961, with a degree in Home Economics as an Alpha Sigma Alpha sister. She met Charles A. Bartel in her senior year at Stout and they married in Chippewa Falls, WI on April 6, 1963. 

Cynthia taught Home Economics at John Muir Jr. High, Wausau, WI 1961-1963, Muskego HS, Muskego WI 1963-1964 and Birnamwood HS, Birnamwood, WI 1964-66. After taking a hiatus from teaching to raise her daughters, she worked at JCPenney as a sales associate in the jewelry department and Marathon Savings Bank as a customer service representative. 

In addition to raising a family, she taught evening sewing and quilting classes. As  an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church, she served on various committees, taught Sunday school and was an officer for United Methodist Women. Over the years, Cynthia was involved in various YWCA clubs including the Horizons Mentorship Program for Southeast Asian teens, Religious Heritage, Antique Study Club, Garden Club. She was also an active member in the local Alpha Sigma Alpha Alumnae Chapter and a charter member of the Marathon County Graduate Home Economists. 

Cynthia was a strong, faith filled wife and mother, whose glass was always half full even in the toughest of times. Cynthia had a knack for making a cozy home to be shared with friends and family. She loved sewing, quilting, wool fiber arts and gathering materials for her percolating, creative ideas. She was always ready and willing to drop what she was doing for fun, friends, adventure and travel. 

Cynthia is survived by her daughters, Betsy (Ken) Spolarich, and Jenni (Brad) Derks; grandchildren, Leah (Daniel) O’Brien, Emily, and Hallie Spolarich, and Libby (Garrett) Lysne and Zoe Derks; great-grandchild, Graham O’Brien; sisters, Judy Roberts, and Jean Schendel; sister-in-law, Carol (Don) Gossage; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Milton and Marguerite Goehring; her husband, Charles Bartel; father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Evelyn Bartel; and brothers-in-law, Jay Roberts, and Richard Schendel. 

A celebration of Cynthia’s life will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, in Wausau, WI. A visitation with a light lunch will run from 11:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church.  

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Cynthia’s honor to: Wesley United Methodist Church, Interim Healthcare Hospice of Wausau, or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Minneapolis, MN.