Louis (Lou) Bartels, 87, Hills, died Monday, May 12, 2003, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today in the Reformed Church of Steen with the Rev. Dan Ramaker officiating. Burial will follow in the Eastside Cemetery of Steen. Louis (Lou) Bartels was born on July 25, 1915, to John and Ann (Acterhoff) Bartels in Carmel, Iowa. Lou attended the Carmel area country schools. He was united in marriage to Bernice Van Malsen on December 1, 1938. Together the couple lived and farmed in the Hills area for more than 50 years. In 1995, Lou became a resident at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, and in 1996 he moved to the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. He was a member of the Reformed Church of Steen, where he served as a deacon and elder. He especially enjoyed singing. He also enjoyed traveling and fishing. In their travels they passed though every state except two. The couple also took many volunteer mission trips to places such as, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, along with others. Lou is survived by his wife, Bernice Bartels; four sons, John (Sharon) Bartels of Ashton, Iowa, Dale (Sue) Bartels of Hills, MN, Dean (Janeane) Bartels of Brookings, S.D. and Randy Bartels of Akron, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, one brother, Pete (Augusta) Bartels of Ripon, Calif.; one sister, Jane (Arnold) Bonnema of Steen., and many other relatives.He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Grace Timmer.Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.
