Eloise Bartels, 81, of Tecumseh

Eloise Ann (Hardin) Bartels was born to Gerald and Frances (Bergan) Hardin on August 1, 1943 in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  She was baptized as an infant in the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh.  Eloise grew up in Tecumseh and graduated from Tecumseh High School with the class of 1961. 

She was united in marriage to Lavern R. Bartels on March 11, 1962 at the Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska.  This union was blessed with five children, sons Steven, Scott and Eric and daughters Angela and Jane.

Eloise was first and foremost a wife and mother.  In her teenage years, she worked at the movie theatre and the dime store in town.  Later she worked for the telephone office, as secretary for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Tecumseh, at State Farm Insurance, in retail business with daughter Angela, for Ridgeview Towers and in the house rental business.  She will be fondly remembered for operating Eloise’s Fashion and Dollar Store where she sold many nurses uniforms at shows in different locations and rented tuxedos locally. 

She was long time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where she was a member of the Priscillas Women’s Group.  She was also a member of the Tecumseh Chamber of Commerce and served as secretary/treasurer for a number of years including during the time of the filming of the movie AMERIKA.  Eloise loved and prayed for family and friends and anyone who needed extra prayers.  She was diligent about getting greeting cards out to all of her family.  She loved knitting, sewing, cooking, baking, playing the piano growing houseplants, playing electronic games and was a Scrabble champion. 

Eloise passed away peacefully into God’s loving arms on January 29, 2025 at the age of 81 years.  She is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years, Lavern of Tecumseh, children Steven (Jennifer) Bartels of Tecumseh, Scott (Michelle) Bartels of Lincoln, Eric (Rona) Bartels of Tecumseh, Angela Haussler of Lincoln and Jane Osborne of Pawnee City, 17 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, brother Malcom (Betty) Hardin, sister Alta Gustafson, brothers-in-law/sisters-in-law Jim Wenzl, Sally Bartels, Dwayne and Janene Bartels, Ruth Bartels, and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, grandson Joshua Parrish, sister Eva Wenzl, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Rev. Ernest and Lois Bartels, Rev. Harry and Ardyce Bartels, Loren Bartels, and nieces Sandra and Patty. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025 at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Pastor Marcel Kohlmeyer officiating.  The service will be livestreamed on this link the day of the service:https://www.youtube.com/@st.johnlutheranchurchtecum4126/streams

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family's choice.

Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska. 

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.