Robert "Bob" Bartel

Robert “Bob” Harold Bartel, 75, of Park View died on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at his home, surrounded by loved ones. Bob’s body died from sin, but his spirit was born into the fullness of eternal life through faith in Jesus. We are sure to see him again face-to-face, as Jesus promises, “BECAUSE I LIVE, YOU ALSO WILL LIVE” (John 14:19).

The visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Park View Lutheran Church from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A service of victory through faith in Jesus Christ will be held at Park View Lutheran Church at 10 AM on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The burial service will be held at Our Silent City Cemetery in Kellogg, Iowa, following the luncheon at the church.

Bob was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 27, 1950, to Harold and Ruth Bartel. Bob was received into the kingdom of God through Holy Baptism at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Milwaukee on August 13, 1950.

 After making public confession of his Christian faith on May 3, 1964, at Gospel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, God led Bob to study for the pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, attending Concordia Junior College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as vicar to Grace Lutheran Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Bob graduated from Concordia Seminary and was ordained in 1976.

Bob was given the privilege to serve his Lord Jesus Christ as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Corning, Iowa, from 1976 until 1981. During that time, he was united in marriage with Elaine C. Barr of Kellogg, Iowa on April 12, 1980.

Bob and Elaine served together as missionaries for the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana, Africa, from 1982 – 1992. God blessed their union with four children: Christine, Terri, Daniel, and Michael.

After returning to the United States, Bob was called to serve alongside the families of faith at Park View Lutheran Church in Eldridge, Iowa from June 1994 until his retirement on January 1, 2016. He loved sharing God’s love and forgiveness with his church family, teaching adult Bible classes and confirmation classes, and visiting the sick and homebound. Bob thoroughly enjoyed visiting family, playing with his grandkids, traveling, kayaking, photography, videography, and supporting the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Following his retirement, Bob continued to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, serving as a guest pastor in DeWitt, Iowa and Galesburg, Illinois. He also loved telling stories of Jesus to the children who attended Share and Care Christian Preschool and the Eastside Mission in Davenport, and he served as a substitute aide at the North Scott elementary schools. Furthermore, Bob had a heart for the incarcerated and held weekly Bible studies as part of the LCMS Prison Ministry at the East Moline Correctional Facility. As Bob’s health failed, he continued to pray with and witness about Jesus Christ to the nurses and doctors who attended him, and he wrote to fellow believers, encouraging them and reminding them of their worth to God.

Bob leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Elaine; two daughters, Christine (Brian) Downey of Springfield, Virginia, and Terri (T.J.) Fenske of Bangkok, Thailand; two sons, Daniel (Karen) Bartel of Shawnee, Kansas, and Michael (Kalee) Bartel of Newport News, Virginia; eleven grandchildren: Melanie, Nolan, Luke, John, Brynne, Jameson, Maverick, Olivia, Violet, Ethan, and Lydia; one brother, John (Henni) Bartel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; two sisters, Susan (Bill) Zeige of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and Joanne (Dennis) Kruse of Mequon, Wisconsin; and many other beloved family and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ruth Bartel; his parents-in-law, Chester and Irene Barr; his brother-in-law, Bob Barr; and many beloved grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the LCMS Board for International Mission, Park View Lutheran Church, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The family would like to thank the many family members and friends who prayed for and supported Bob and Elaine during the past five years of illness and throughout the years.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com

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