Edgar Fred Bartels

Edgar Fred "Lefty" Bartels, 77, of Greeley, CO, passed from this earth on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at Garden Square of Greeley. Lefty was born on September 10, 1931, the third child of Herman and Nellie (Wagoner) Bartels. He graduated from Greeley High School in 1949 and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earning a degree in Business. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. After graduation from college, he joined the U. S. Army and served in Korea and was honorably discharged in 1956. He returned to Greeley and began his business career with the Keys Agency. In 1970, the Keys Agency merged with Norman Noe to become Bartels & Noe Agency, and Lefty sold his business and retired in 1994. He was an active member of the Greeley community serving on many boards, including the NCMC Foundation, Greeley Jaycees, Boys and Girls Club, Weld County Republican party, Greeley Chamber of Commerce and Meals on Wheels and "Friends of Baseball". Lefty was chairman of the "Go West with Greeley" rodeo committee for 2 years and served on the committee for 6 years. He served as Chairman of the Weld County Bank Board, which later became Colorado National Bank. He was also a lifetime member of Kiwanis and Trinity Lutheran Church. Lefty loved life, loved to fish, play golf and ride his Honda down to the farm. Most of all, he loved his family and many friends. A special thanks to those friends who supported him during his time with Alzheimer's. Lefty and his family are so grateful to the staff at Garden Square of Greeley for the love and devotion they gave to him. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Bartels of Greeley; sons, Brian Bartels and wife, Jennifer of Greeley and Bradley Bartels and wife Emmanuelle, of Steamboat Springs; grandchildren, Louis, Mateo, Ally and Cole Bartels; nephews, Richard Bartels and wife, Jane, of Greeley; and niece, Kathryn and husband, Rick Stahlman of Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Leonard and Harold. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 19, 2009 at Greeley Wesleyan Church. Cremation will be completed. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels or the Alzheimer's Association in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO.