Willard J. Bartels

Willard J. Bartels, 86, of Wakefield, NE, entered into heaven on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, NE. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor William Bertrand will be officiating. The burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield, NE. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Willard was born on July 17, 1935, at Wakefield, NE, the son of Ervin and Lucille (Walter) Bartels. He was baptized on August 4, 1935, and confirmed in 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Wakefield, where he was a lifelong member. He attended the Park Hill Country School and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1953. He served in the United States Army from 1955 until 1957, where he served for 18 months as a military policeman in Tokyo, Japan. On February 2, 1958, Willard was united in marriage to Wilma Temme at Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne, NE. Willard was a farmer his entire adult life. He served at St. John’s Lutheran Church in several positions throughout the years. He was also a member of the LLL-Lutheran Hour Ministries. He also enjoyed being involved with the Gideon’s. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wilma of Wakefield, NE; children, Loren of Wakefield, NE, Jolene Wymore, NE, Bruce (Lisa) of Firth, NE and Brian of Wakefield, NE; grandchildren, Erin Fleury of Ponca, NE, Evan (Ashley) Bartels of Wakefield, NE, Claudia and Joshua Bartels of Firth, NE; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Jordyn and Rhett Fleury of Ponca, NE; Blakely, Cole and Demi Bartels of Wakefield, NE; brother, Eugene (Tootie) Bartels of Wakefield, NE; sister, Verna Mae Krause of Winfield, KS; in-laws, Esther Brader and Fritz (Joann) Temme of Wayne, NE, Caroline Caauwe and Roland (Hiroko) Temme of Lincoln, NE and Gladys Juhlin of Norfolk, NE; and many nieces and nephews. Willard was preceded in death by his parents; eight brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law and two nieces.