Leona D (Laue) Bartels

  Leona D. (Laue) Bartels, 79, of rural Tecumseh, passed away April 24, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska.   She was born to Edward and Dorothy (Koehler) Laue, Sr. on March 6, 1940 in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  Leona was baptized April 14, 1940 and confirmed Feb. 22, 1953 at the St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church, rural Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She went to elementary school at District #68 near Tecumseh, and high school in Tecumseh, graduating in May of 1957.

  She was united in marriage to Harold Lee Bartels on April 27, 1958 by Pastor Kaiser at the St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church, rural Tecumseh, Nebraska.

 Leona worked at the Campbell’s Soup Company and as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Med Aide, and later in the laundry for the Maple Grove Home until it closed in 1998.  She was a homemaker and dedicated farm wife to her husband Harold. She was a member of the Southeast Farmettes Extension Club. Early in their marriage, Harold and Leona enjoyed going to dances and they always liked going out to eat together.  Leona loved cooking and baking and taught many of her grandchildren baking, cooking and canning skills. Her home was always an open door for family and she would have plenty of food around to share.  She often babysat for many of her nieces and nephews.  Leona faithfully watched Big Joe’s Polka Show over the years.  She dearly loved her family and was thrilled to recently welcome her first great-grandson.   Her husband Harold passed away January 17, 2017. Leona continued to live on the farm with the assistance of her son and his family.  The date of her funeral would have been Harold and Leona’s 61st wedding anniversary. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt and will be deeply missed by many.

   She is survived by her daughters, Deb Matulka and husband Mike of Thedford and Lynette Fleck and husband Larry, Jr. of Owasso, OK, son, Daniel Bartels and wife Kim of rural Tecumseh, grandchildren, Drew (Tayla) Fleck, Jessica Matulka, Caitlin Fleck, Melissa (Jared) Mracek, Valerie Matulka, Cody Bartels and Kyle Bartels, great-grandson, Brayden Michael, sisters, Bernice Rinne of Beatrice, Ruby McGuire and husband Dave of Cortland, brothers, Larry ”Pee-Wee” Laue of Tecumseh, Richard Laue and wife Lois of Wymore and sisters-in-law Cynthia Laue of Lincoln and Sharon Hestermann and husband Eldon of Eagle and brother-in-law, Eldon Bartels and wife Lois Ann of Elk Creek and numerous nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Barbara Jean, husband, Harold, sister, Donna Beth Laue, brothers, Glen Laue and Edward Laue, Jr., brothers-in-law, Charles Rinne and Kenneth Bartels and sister-in-law, Delilah Laue.                                    

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Rev. Robert Schermbeck officiating.  

Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Friday, April 24, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 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.

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