Obituary: Esther Jost Bartel
KS_Newton — Esther Jost Bartel, 89, passed away June 2,
2013, at Kidron Bethel Health Care in North Newton.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 6,
at the Bethel College Mennonite Church. Burial will be at Johannestal Cemetery
prior to the memorial service. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at
Petersen Family Funeral Home, with family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bethel College
Mennonite Church, for use by the music department, at 2600 College Ave., North
Newton, KS 67117, or may be left in care of the funeral home, 215 N. Main,
Newton, KS 67114.
Esther was born Dec. 17, 1923, in Hillsboro, the daughter of
Dan and Bena (Goertz) Jost. She grew up on the family farm outside Hillsboro.
She was a graduate of Hillsboro High School and attended Tabor College.
She married Wesley Bartel Aug. 11, 1943, and lived in
Denver, Colorado, while Wes was in Civilian Public Service. The Bartel family
then lived in Hoxie, before returning to the Hillsboro area in 1952. They moved
to Newton in 1958.
Esther was very active at the Bethel College Mennonite
Church, where through the years she was a Sunday school teacher, children's
choir director, chancel choir and bell choir participant and served on many
boards and committees.
After working at Bethel Deaconess Hospital for three years,
Esther was employed by Prairie View Mental Health Center in 1966, where she
developed the medical records department and continued to work until her retirement
in 1989.
Her husband, Wesley, died in 1981, after a long bout with
cancer. Esther moved to her North Newton home in 1984. Her retirement years
were filled with travel, visiting family, quilting, spending time with friends,
and continuing her involvement in the Bethel College Church.
In 2006, Esther suffered a series of strokes and has been a
resident of Kidron Bethel facilities ever since.
She is survived by her brother, Walter Jost and his wife
Mary Ann; and four children, Marilyn (Ray) Huss, Independence, Missouri, Ralph
(Mimi)Bartel, Fredericksburg, Texas, Barbara (Bob) Hurley, Wichita, and Bruce
(Misty) Bartel, North Newton. She also is survived by eight grandchildren and
five great-grandchildren.
1923 - 2013 (89 years)