Tribute

John was born to Heinrich & Agathe (Andres) Bartel in West Prussia (Poland), the 5th of 11  children.  The Bartel family was always active in the Mennonite Church where John was baptized at age 16. In 1936 he married Anna Kroeker, with whom he had 5 daughters and 2 sons. He was ordained  to the ministry in 1941.

John spent the duration of World War II in the German Army, then was a prisoner of war  for a time. Anna and five children fled to Austria where they were miraculously reunited with John.

The next 5 years were spent farming in Bavaria. In 1951, with the aid of C.F. Klassen, MCC and the David Rempel family of Ridgetop Dairy, the extended family immigrated to Canada.  John and family settled on a farm in Rosedale, BC, where he developed a purebred herd of Holstein milk cows. When he retired, his son, John Walter, continued with the farm.

In 1980, John lost his  wife Anna to cancer – after 43 years of marriage.

In 1981 John married Helen Willms of Chilliwack, with whom he spent 33 years and who survives him, along with 7 children, 23 grandchildren & 23 great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Friday, July 10 at  11:30 AM at Eden Mennonite Church, on Chilliwack Central Rd. Interment will be at 10 AM at Valley View Cemetery in Agassiz.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MCC – BC.