Bertilla "Bert" Barthel

Bertilla "Bert" B. Barthel, 89, of Waukon, IA, died Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Memorial services will be held Monday, October 8th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. A private burial will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of services Monday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting the family. Memorials can be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or the Good Samaritan Center, both in Waukon.

Bertilla "Bert" Beatrice Barthel was born November 20, 1928, in Paynesville, MN, the daughter of Nick and Julia (Yaeger) Lutgen. She grew up in the Paynesville area and after she finished school, worked as a telephone operator. On June 9, 1951, Bert married Vernon B. Barthel at the Catholic church in Paynesville. Bert was a busy homemaker, raising five kids, as the family moved around the Midwest frequently due to Vernon's job. For the past 14 years, she lived in Waukon, IA, which was the longest she stayed in one place. After her children grew up, Bert then spent a lot of time babysitting her grandchildren and also volunteered in Waukon at the hospital, St. Patrick Catholic Church, and the Good Samaritan Center.

Bert was a member at St. Patrick Catholic Church and the VFW Auxiliary. She liked gardening, canning, and sewing. Bert also enjoyed cooking and baking, especially cookies and pies, and was always preparing something to take to the church and nursing home, to a funeral, or to a sick friend. Bert always had a positive attitude and always saw the silver lining in everything. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her five children: Wayne (Nancy) Barthel of St. Michael, MN, Larry (Lin) Barthel of Waterville, IA, Sharon (Jim) Povlich of Pewaukee, WI, Ron (Anna) Barthel of Marble Falls, TX, and Karen (John) Nutt of Alexandria, VA; her foster son Dave Busch of Lena, IL; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law Gerald Barthel of Monticello, MN, and Ervin "Bud" Meyer of Naples, FL; and a sister-in-law Yvonne Kalmus of Manville, TX.

Bert was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vernon in 1998; and her seven siblings: Zita, Cyril, Cornelia, DeLore, Corrine, Stanley, and Laura.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon for their loving care and support during Bert's short illness.