Obituary of Dale Bartels

Dale J. Bartels, 85, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019. Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Monday January 6, 2020, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville, Iowa where the American Legion will hold a service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9 - 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 7th at the funeral home prior to funeral services. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery where American Legion Post 137 will accord military honors. Dale was born to Edward and Marie (Kluesner) Bartels on January 28, 1934 in Dyersville, Iowa the 6th of 15 children. He attended school in Dyersville graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School class of 1952. Dale enlisted in the Navy and served 4 years from 1952-1956 during the Korean War aboard the Destroyer USS McDermut. While in the Navy Dale served in the flag allowance of the Commander cruiser/destroyer force U.S. Pacific fleet. After his military service, Dale began his career at John Deere Dubuque Tractor Works retiring in 1986 from the Purchasing Department after 30 years of service. Dale met his first wife Jean Walsh while working at Deere. The couple married June 30, 1962 at Sacred Heart Church Fillmore IA. Jean died July 3, 1980. In 1985 Dale married Helen (Lueck) Witte, Helen died June 27, 1998. Throughout his life Dale was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, golf and bird watching. He was a lifetime member of the Sportsman’s Club in Dyersville, a member of American Legion Post # 137, having served in the positions of adjunct and commander. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1734. Dale is preceded in death by his parents, 1st wife, Jean and 2nd wife, Helen, son, Mark in April of 1963, daughter, Marie in December 1966 (both in infancy), sisters: Myrna Carty of Sun Prairie WI, Phyllis Bartels of Hazel Green WI, Rosemary Frericks and Kathleen (Kay) Krapfl both of Dyersville. He is survived by daughter, Megan of Houston, TX and son, Nicholas of Chicago, IL, step daughters: Ann Witte (Brad) Bartheld of Carmel, IN, Kate Witte of Lima, OH, Amy Witte of Ankeny, IA, step grandchildren: Matt (Katie) and Kristen Bartheld and Avery and Elijah Huberty, sisters: Joan Bartels and Emily Bartels of Dyersville, IA, Doris Crow and Bevlin Bartels of Dubuque, IA, Marlene (Steve) McAleer of Monticello, IA, Patricia Bartels of Elk Horn, WI, Joyce (Frank) Caruso of the Villages, FL and Nancy (Burt) Fairchild of Woodbury, MN, brothers: William Bartels of Dyersville, IA and John Bartels of Moore, OK. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Dyersville Sportsmen’s Club, PO Box 163, Dyersville IA 52040 or the American Legion Post 137 c/o 115 6th St. N.E. Dyersville IA 52040. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com