James H. Bartels, age 75, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022. He was born in Omro on August 4, 1946 the son of the late H. Kenneth and Mabel (Kolbus) Bartels. On July 6, 1968 he married Gwen Brennand at St. Mary Catholic Church, Omro. Jim was a graduate of Omro High School Class of 1964. He was proud to serve in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967 during the Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star and later attending the Old Glory Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in 2019. Jim worked for Gibson Buick and Cadillac in Oshkosh and later for Mercury Marine High Performance Division, retiring in 2008. He enjoyed working on small engines and keeping the neighbor's lawn mowers and snow blowers working. He could also be found working on old cars, especially his 1937 Ford. Jim was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Winneconne, a member of American Legion Post #234, and volunteered with the Omro-Rushford Fire Department.
Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gwen; son, Nicholas (Cheryl) Bartels of McFarland; grandchildren: Avery and Hattie Bartels; brothers-in-law: Lester Brennand of Larson and Berniel Tritt of Neenah; and sister-in-law, Catherine (Francis Sauer) DeWitt of Ocoee, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Roger Bartels; sisters-in-law: Carol Brennand and Lorraine Tritt; and brothers-in-law: David (Irene) Brennand and Vernon DeWitt.
A visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 730 Madison Ave., OMRO. Burial will be in Lakeview Memorial Park at 2:00 p.m. with military honors. The mass will be live streamed at the link on www.stmarychurches.org. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in Jim's name is being established.
The Family extends a special thank you to the staff at Ascension Mercy Medical Center for their wonderful care.