Peter K. Bartel was born on July 8, 1911 to Diedrich and Helena (nee Klassen) Bartel at Neuanlage (now Twin Creek), Manitoba. His father homesteaded near Kleefeld, so that is where he grew up and attended the Gruenfeld School, finishing Grade Eight. He attended the Kleefeld Kleinegemeinde Church where he met the Lord and was baptized on the confession of his faith. On May 18th, 1935 he married the love of his life, Margaret Rempel. After a year of renting a house and building their own, they moved to their newly built house on a forty acre parcel of land near Kleefeld where they proceeded to farm for a living and raised the two sons and two daughters the Lord blessed them with. Like many other young men in Kleefeld, Dad kept bees, but because of a severe allergy problem he had to give up beekeeping for a time. Life was not easy on their little mixed farm at the end of the Great Depression, but they did what they could to keep food on the table. Dad even worked for a while at C.T. Loewens to bring in some extra income. When his allergy condition improved he resumed beekeeping and became one of the beekeepers who expanded seriously to commercial level with as many as 675 hives -- and life became easier. In the fall of 1945 Dad felt a strong call of God on his life and in September he was elected to the ministry in the Kleefeld EMC church. He was ordained in November and the ministry became a central part of the rest of his active life. He loved learning, especially as it related to the Scriptures and ministry, and he surrounded himself with books. He took courses at Steinbach Bible Academy and later at Mennonite Brethren Bible College to further his skill as a preacher and minister. He had a passion for missions and was a founding member of the Western Gospel Mission and the Western Tract Mission (running the mailing part from his house for many years). He served on numerous committees for the EMC as well as other boards including the Steinbach Bible Institute. In 1961 Dad built a new house, something Mom had dreamed about and drawn plans of, for years. They lived in that house, making renovations and building an addition to accommodate their growing family gatherings, until Mom passed away in 2000, after sixty five years of marriage. It seemed best, after Mom’s death, that Dad should move to a smaller place, so he moved first to Village Oaks Apartments in Kleefeld and then into Woodhaven Manor in Steinbach. Because of failing health it became necessary for him to move to a personal care facility, so in August 2004 he moved to Menno Home in Grunthal where he resided until his death on April 13, 2009. He leaves behind two sons, Norman (Rosella) of Kleefeld, Lee (Linda) of Toronto, two daughters, Elsie (John) Hodges of Steinbach and Myrtle (Erdman) Esau of Mitchell, 13 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Jake (Mary), Elmer (Anne) and one sister, Linda (Dave) Kehler. Dad was a faithful and devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a faithful minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a loving friend and an encourager of many. We want to express our appreciation to family and friends for your prayers, cards and words of encouragement. We want say a special thank you to the staff at the Menno Home in Grunthal for the compassionate care they gave Dad while he was a resident there. He “walked with God!” Could grander words be written? Not much of what he thought or said is told; Nor where or what he wrought is even mentioned; He “walked with God” – brief words of fadeless gold! How many souls were nurtured on his journey – Helped by his words, or prayers, we may not know; Still, this we read – words of excelling grandeur – He “walked with God”, while yet he walked below. And, after years, long years, of such blest walking, One day he walked, then was not, God said, “Come!” Come from the scene of weary sin-stained sadness! Come to the fuller fellowship of home!” Such be the tribute of thy pilgrim journey While life’s last mile thy feet have bravely trod – When thou hast gone to all that there awaits thee, This simple epitaph – “He walked with God!” We rejoice in the assurance that Dad is now seeing Jesus face to face. - His Family The funeral service will be held Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Mennonite Church in Kleefeld with interment at the church cemetery. If friends so desire donations may be made to Evangelical Mennonite Conference Missions, 440 Main St.; Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5