John Wilbert Bartel, 82, of rural Nelson, MO, passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, surrounded by many loving family members.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 1, 2024, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating. Burial will follow in Salt Fork Cemetery near Nelson. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to family choice and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.
John was born on July 31, 1941, in rural Saline County; he was the son of the late Dewey Frederick Bartel and Anna Marie Schmidt Bartel. He lived in rural Saline County his entire life and was a graduate of Nelson High School. John grew up plowing fields, planting and harvesting grain, tending to chickens, hogs, dairy cows, and grazing cattle. He married Patty Ann Wiecken on June 14, 1963, in Versailles, MO, and she was the love of his life. Patty preceded him in death on November 2, 2018, after 55 years of marriage.
John had three great loves in his life: Patty, his family, and farming. He had an entire bedroom filled from floor to ceiling with John Deere memorabilia that many grandchildren and great-grandchildren gazed at with amazement and awe. He loved having company and sharing his collection with all who wanted to see it. All kids who went there for a visit left with a bottle of juice, a piece of fruit, and all the candy that they could carry. He had immense pride in his two sons, who followed in his footsteps and inherited his love for farming. He had equal pride in his daughter and her pursuit of a career in healthcare. In his later years when his health prohibited him from operating all the machinery, he was still a major part of the farming operation helping move equipment from field to field, running for parts, and sitting in the fields in his gator watching and dreaming of years gone by when he was the one operating the machinery alongside them. As late as last fall he hauled in large round hay bales and lined them up to perfection.
Surviving are two sons, Larry Bartel (Tonia) and Dewey Bartel (Donna) of rural Nelson; a daughter, Judy Shireman (Eric) of Marshall; a nephew/honorary son, Jonathon Raines (Reba) of rural Nelson; grandchildren: Tara Beltz (Chaney), Nick Shireman, Brett Jasper (Aislinn), Stacey Narron (Ron), Brooke Williams (Brian Gyhra), Kasey Williams, Ronnie Dale Bush (Stacey), Crystal Riggs (Chip), Rugen and Lilyanne Raines; great-grandchildren: Brecken and Logan Jasper, Bella, Paisley, Rowan and Sawyer Wolfe, Jude Williams, Redding, Holt and Olen Beltz, Katelyn Harlow (Michael), Justin Smith (Paige Newton), Cody and Caleb Bush, Lourdes Fernandez (Gabriel); and great-great-grandchildren; Beckett, Eleanor and Olivia Harlow, Daleyza Quetzecua and Sofia Fernandez; two aunts, Rose Sands and Roberta Cohalla; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by one brother, Charles “Butch” Bartel.
John will be forever missed by his family and friends. The fields in Heaven will have rows as straight as an arrow and will be harvested with love.