Susan Bartel

Susan (Schultz) Bartel was born on February 22, 1900, in Mountain Lake, MN to John D. and Elizabeth (Sawatzky) Schultz. She was fourth in a family of ten children. The Schultz family attended the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church (now Cornerstone Bible Church) in Mountain Lake, where Susan accepted the Lord as her Saviour, was baptized, taught Sunday School, and remained a lifelong member. After attending grade and high school in Mountain Lake she graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. Susan was united in marriage to Loyal H. Bartel, also a Moody graduate on June 4, 1926, in Mountain Lake. After her husband graduated from Northern Baptist Seminary in Chicago, they left for China and were supported by the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren, and served under the China Mennonite Mission Society. Susan was an instructor of music, as well as counselor to the women at the Bible school in Caoxian. She supervised Bible school students who conducted children's classes at the local church. After World War II, she also conducted a girls choir. Upon her return to the United States with her children in 1948 she lived in Mountain Lake for three years. Then she moved to Wheaton, IL, where she worked for Scripture Press and taught a Sunday School class at the Wheaton Bible Church. During later years she led Bible studies in her home. Scripture was very important to Susan, and she would always quote a cherished verse or psalm at family gatherings. She also enjoyed raising African violets, doing flower arrangements for shut-ins, making pressed flower cards, crocheting, and making baby blankets for her grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. In 1988 she became a resident of Chapel View Apartments in Hopkins, MN, where she was active in Bible studies, ceramic classes and visiting those who were sick and bed ridden. In September, 2000 Susan moved to Chapel View Care Center. She loved her family and showed a special interest in each grandchild and great grandchild. She went to be with the Lord on Thursday afternoon, January 10, 2008, at the age of 107 years, 10 months and 19 days. Susan (Schultz) Bartel, 107 ,of Hopkins, MN, formerly of Mountain Lake, MN, died on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at Chapel View Care Center in Hopkins, MN. Susan is survived by her five children and their spouses, Lenora and Milton Regier of Glen Ellyn, IL, Ruth and William Stough of Uganda, Africa, Lois and Fred Pringle of St. Charles, IL, Esther and Robert Rupp of Minnetonka, MN, and David and Marilyn Vogel Bartel of Dearborn, MI; 13 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; nephews and nieces and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Loyal H. Bartel in 1971 while serving the Lord in China; three sisters, Justina Stoesz, Katherine Sawatzky and Elizabeth Thompson; and six brothers, Gerhard, Dr. Peter, Henry, and John, as well as David and John who died of diphtheria.