MEADE – Pete R. Bartel, age 88, died early Wednesday morning, October 20, 2010, at the Lone Tree Retirement Center, Meade, Kansas.

He was born January 23, 1922, in rural Meade County, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Rempel) Bartel. As a young boy he attended the McNulty Grade School in rural Meade County. After his schooling he trained horses, farmed and ranched. During World War II he joined the 1W service where he received his training in well drilling. In 1948, he started his career as a well driller, owning and operating Bartel Well Drilling.

On August 10, 1952, he married Malenda L. Penner at Enid, Oklahoma. After their marriage, the couple made their home in Meade. In addition to the well service, he assisted his wife with the Bartel Bake Shop that they started in 1957. In 1986 he retired from the well business but continued to help at the bake shop, providing baked goods to the community for many years.

He was a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Meade, and a former member of the Kansas Groundwater Association. He enjoyed crocheting and knitting, having made several table clothes and rugs over the years.

He is survived by:
Three sons, Dan Bartel and wife Teri Ann of Minneola, Kansas
Reuben Bartel and wife Jeris of Meade, Kansas
Phil Bartel and wife Maralee of Meade, Kansas
A daughter, Rachel Schmidt and husband Norman of Brooklet, Georgia
Three brothers, Martin Bartel of Meade, Kansas
Albert Bartel of Dodge City, Kansas
Andy Bartel of Kansas City, Kansas
Four sisters, Margaret Reimer of Meade, Kansas
Elizabeth Betekofer of Hesston, Kansas
Esther Whiteman of Wichita, Kansas
Bertha Seifert of Topeka, Kansas
Ten grandchildren

He is preceded in death by is wife, Malenda on December 13, 2006; parents; and two sisters, Katherine Patton and Mary Reimer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 23, 2010, at the Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Meade, with Reverend Ken Harder presiding. Friends may call from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade. Interment will follow in the Emmanuel Mennonite Church Cemetery, rural Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to the Kansas Groundwater Association in care of the funeral home.