Kenneth L. Bartels

   Kenneth Laverne Bartels was born to Richard and Elsie (Wagner) Bartels on September 22, 1932 on the family farm in Pawnee County, Nebraska.  He was baptized October 16, 1932 and confirmed on April 14, 1946 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rural Elk Creek, Nebraska.  He attended rural school District #45, St. Peter’s Parochial School and graduated from Steinauer High School as Valedictorian of his Class in 1950.

    He began working as a bank teller for the Bank of Steinauer during high school and in 1954 went to work for the Johnson County Bank which later became the American National Bank in Tecumseh.  He retired in 2005 as a loan officer, working in the banking industry for over 50 years. He served as church organist and treasurer for St. John’s Lutheran Church for many years and was President of the Johnson County Chapter of American Red Cross actively involved with the bloodmobile.  Kenneth was instrumental in the construction of the Tecumseh Village Apartments, serving as treasurer of the Village Apartment Board.   In his spare time Kenneth enjoyed listening to music and going to dances. Even though he had no children of his own, he was very fond of his nieces and nephews and was very interested in their lives.  Kenneth lived in his home in Tecumseh until 2010 when he moved to Ridgeview Towers.  In April of 2017, he became a resident of Belle Terrace and passed away there on January 14, 2018 at the age of 85 years.

    Kenneth is survived by his brother, Eldon Bartels and wife Lois Ann of Elk Creek, sister, Sharon Hestermann and husband Eldon of Eagle, sister-in-law, Leona Bartels of Tecumseh and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

  He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Elsie, brother, Harold Bartels and niece, Barbara Jean Bartels.                  

     Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 19, 2018 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with Rev. Jonathan Rathjen officiating.

   Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Thursday, January 18, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

    Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

    Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska.

    Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com. 

 Service Information