Carol J Bartels

Carol Jean Bartels, the daughter of Helen (Anderson) and Herschel Armstrong, passed away at the Franklin County Memorial Hospital on November 23, 2019 at the age of 88. Carol was born in Kenesaw, Nebraska on October 9, 1931.

She attended school in Kenesaw and in 1948, she was honored to be selected as the Kenesaw representative at Cornhusker Girls’ State. In 1949, Carol was chosen as the Kenesaw High School football queen. She graduated from high school with the class of 1949 and went on to Hastings College where she belonged to the Kappa Phi Upsilon Society. It was the same society that her mother had belonged to. Later in her life she attended the University of Nebraska at both Lincoln and Kearney, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree. After graduation she taught school in Campbell for 5 years. During this time her mother became seriously ill with cancer. She cared for her at home until her death.

Carol married Gerald Bartels June 18, 1954 in the United Methodist Church at Kenesaw. They lived in Campbell the first 5 years of their marriage. Gerald’s farming and cattle kept him so busy they decided to move to a farm nine miles south of Campbell where they lived for 22 years. Gerald became interested in center pivot irrigation during this time and became a pioneer in this form of irrigation.

In 1983, they built a house six miles east of Franklin near Highway 136. Carol taught music ½ days in the Riverton and Bloomington high schools and also at the Upland schools. She taught music and band K-12 in Campbell for 2 years. She then taught 22 years of K-12 music in Red Cloud. Carol felt very blessed to teach such talented students in many musicals and District Music Contests. They were honored to be asked to sing the songs from the “Phantom of the Opera” before the State Superintendents Association in Kearney.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and a great grandson, Jacob Bartels.

Surviving are her husband of 65 years, Gerald Bartels; two sons, Steve and wife, Debbie; and David and wife, Nancy. She was blessed with 5 grandchildren: Dan and wife Molly, Scott and wife Heidi, Amber, Michael and wife Jill and Craig and wife Brenna. She was also blessed to have 9 great grandchildren: Ryan, Logan, Ella, Jacob, Clayton, Jaxton, Kyler, Zoey, Blakely and one on the way. She has one cousin, Janet Hedlund, a sister-in-law, Leona Griem and a host of friends.

Carol and Gerald retired in 1993, and enjoyed spending their winters in Arizona golfing, swimming and playing cards. She spent the last 8 years of her life in assisted living and later the nursing home. She always had a smile on her face and enjoyed playing the piano and singing for the residents. She will be greatly missed by her family.

Services were Wednesday, 10:30 am, November 27, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Campbell, Nebraska with Rev. Loren Copper officiating. Interment was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established by the family for later designation.

Williams Funeral Home
241 West 4th Avenue
Re Cloud, Nebraska     68970

Phone 402-746-2500
williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com

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