Hillsboro - Alvena Bartel, 94 passed away November 24, 2020 in Hillsboro. She was born July 28, 1926 to John and Florentine (Ratzlaff) Goossen in Goessel.
She married Wilbert N. Bartel February 7, 1947 at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro.
Survivors include: daughters, Dorothy (David) Soldan of Manhattan, Janet Bartel of Manhattan; sons, Wilbert K. “Sonny” (Franceen) Bartel of rural Hillsboro, Wilmer (Marilyn) Bartel of Hillsboro; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred (Donna) Goossen.
Private family interment at Haven of Rest cemetery rural Hillsboro led by Pastor Tom Harder Wednesday, November 25, 2020. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
Life Sketch
Alvena Bartel was born July 28, 1926, to John D. and Florentine (Ratzlaff) Goossen in Goessel, Kansas. Her arrival on a hot day during busy haying season brought great joy to the first-time parents. She soon observed the demands and satisfactions of life on a farm, an experience which prepared her for over 94 years of rural life.
The Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and World War II had lasting impacts on the family which soon included seven children. They found ways to make do with what they had, often limited to what was produced on the farm. Alvena described this as being very little, but always just enough. As the oldest child, she had chores not only outside with the animals and garden, but also in the kitchen and care for her younger siblings. As a teenager, she was available for assistance to aunts and uncles during their busy times, such as a new baby in the family or with cooking and child care during wheat harvests/threshing. She traveled via Greyhound bus to these destinations. This hard work and caring for others became a life-long practice.
Alvena’s early education was at Maple Hill and Canada, both Marion County rural schools. She graduated from Hillsboro High School, Class of 1944. Although she lived only five miles from the high school, she rented a room from a family in town because her family had only one vehicle for transportation and farm use, and war-time rationing limited available resources. Her father brought her to town early Monday morning, then returned late Friday afternoon for her travel home. For spending money she worked part-time as an egg candler for a local grocer and egg processor.
Her record of high academic achievement served as preparation for independent life-long learning through reading to satisfy a genuine curiosity for a broad range of topics. Free or restful moments found her with book in hand. Her favorites were history, biography, world events, and biblical studies. If time was available, she generally read one or more books each week. She was an avid reader until a few months before her passing.
An interest for sewing developed during her high school years. She had learned basics from her mother, but having an instructor challenged her to a higher level and presented her with ongoing satisfaction for both construction and gifting throughout her life. Her four children recall how diligently she worked during summer months to be certain each had five new dresses or shirts to begin the school year. Additional garments were crafted for special occasions.
Later she transitioned her creativity to hand embroidery and piecing quilts. Over the years she hemmed, stamped, and embroidered hundreds of tea towels, usually in sets of seven. Likewise, hundreds of yards of fabric were cut in precise pieces, arranged, and stitched into quilt tops. Her definite favorites were scrappy quilts of all shapes and sizes, with fabrics carefully curated for color themes and overall appearance, sometimes for specific recipients. She gifted generously to family, extended family, and those with need. How blessed we are to hold these cherished items.
She entered her handwork and quilts in the county and state fairs and earned numerous championship purple and blue ribbons. If possible, she avoided entering in “senior citizen” categories because she was interested to learn whether her work as a person in her 70s, 80s, or 90s was competitive with that of younger and more educated or accomplished entrants. She spent winter months preparing her items and by springtime had them ready for entry in July and September. Of interest, she had finished items for the 2020 county and state fairs, but these events were cancelled due to COVID-19.
She was encouraged by high school teachers to pursue further education but there was not a financial pathway to follow this option. Her interests would have been for teaching or medical work. Instead, after graduation she was employed in the high school office. One of her tasks was the daily delivery and receiving of school mail/parcels at the train depot (in the area where the Hillsboro Post Office is currently located). The “doodle-bug” made a prompt but brief mid-afternoon stop so one of her assignments was to be on location for the drop-off and pick-up, but be away from the office for the minimum time possible. Alvena reported running from the high school to the depot with the out-going delivery, then accepting the incoming delivery and running back to the high school within a time of 25 minutes. She said she tried to shorten her time but could do this only if there were no out-going items, the “doodle-bug” was exactly on time or a bit early, and there were no items for pick-up. Now we understand how she was a fast and energetic worker.
Alvena married Wilbert N. Bartel on a cold and snowy February 7, 1947, at the First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, where both were life-long members. They were acquainted for several years through school and church, but it wasn’t until they were high school seniors when Wilbert found an opportune moment to locate her lab coat and tie it in knots, which made her almost late to chemistry class. This really got her attention, and set the stage for what would become the beginning of another family story. After graduation, Wilbert fulfilled a World War II alternative service requirement. Then after discharge he returned to the family farm southeast of Hillsboro. They married and farmed together for 67 years before Wilbert’s death in November 2014. Alvena remained independent in her farm home until July 2020.
Four children were born to Alvena and Wilbert: Dorothy, “Sonny” (Wilbert K.), Janet, and Wilmer. The farm became lively with children who loved the outdoors and opportunities for pets, their play and care. We had assigned tasks and spent many hours working with our parents and eventually independently doing the work of the farm. Each one of us grew up capable of being “farmers” but only their two sons chose to pursue farm related interests as their life work.
We agree Mom’s favorite farm animals were the chickens. The large flocks of laying hens received superior care and rewarded Mom with grand and reserve champion trophies for eggs entered in competitions at the state poultry and egg shows in 1957, 1958 and 1961.
Mom taught us to be gardeners, caretakers for farm animals, the yard, and generally to make ourselves useful and flexible for whatever needed to be accomplished, including to plan the use of our time. She led by example and encouragement, then gave us ample opportunity to observe, learn, and participate. This extended to household skills. A bountiful garden was produced, preserved, consumed and/or shared. In addition we were encouraged and supported to develop our own interests, and to perform well the options we selected. There was time for all the play and work we needed to do. Life on a small acreage farm was financially tough most times, but from a child’s perspective this did not cause uncertainty as we were loved and affirmed in many ways, most of which were centered on being together and working together as a family.
Mom was a gentle person, a welcoming and gracious hostess with generous time to spend with family or visitors who stopped by. She was also a keeper of family records and stories and was consulted to identify or verify information, which she readily shared. For several generations of the Bartel family, the farm is known as their “home place”. Likewise for the Goossen family, this farm was near enough to their roots, so became a frequent stopping place. Another reason extended family liked to stop at our farm was because our entire family was fluent with the Low German dialect and spoke it daily (still do), and this was of interest to them either to hear it, or join in conversation.
After her four children were adults and away from home, Mom decided to get a “town job” in addition to her work on the farm. She trained to be a Certified Nurse Aide, then a Certified Medication Aide and worked for 12 years as a CMA in a nursing home. We wondered how she had energy to do all this, but she did it. We think she even trained the farm animals to her schedule. Her farm work was finished prior to reporting for her evening shift at the nursing home.
As in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren joined the family, Alvena added a whole new level of love and generosity to share with her growing family. She kept the cookie jar fresh and full, made extra batches of her tasty cinnamon rolls, always offered home cooked meals and lots of time for interactions, and of course she made special quilts. Some of her young grandchildren were “town children” so she did her best to introduce them to both the amazing responsibilities and adventures of farm life. Holidays and gatherings of the generations at the farm were unique and highly anticipated. The week before Christmas Alvena and Wilbert spent evenings making buckets full of popcorn balls, only to see them quickly disappear in a delicious experience when the children and grandchildren arrived. Likewise, birthdays and other traditions were celebrated at the farm. All were joyous times. Mom had prepared to make them the best.
Early Summer 2020 Alvena expressed concern for her declining strength related to advancing heart failure. She desired to remain in her own home so her children increased their assistance to facilitate her wishes. However, in July she began an extended hospital stay followed by admission to long-term health care. While there, she continued her sincere interest in her family. She looked forward to hearing about all of them. At age 94 she wondered why life was so short, and reflected her life was full of satisfaction and gratitude. Her strong faith in Christ demonstrated and shared throughout her lifetime continued to grow and sustain her even as she prayed fervently and waited patiently for His call to eternal life. Her prayerful desire was granted early morning, November 24, 2020.
Graveside service and burial was on November 25, 2020, Haven of Rest Cemetery, adjacent to the Bartel family farm, Hillsboro Kansas.
Alvena is survived by her children: Dorothy (David) Soldan, Wilbert K. “Sonny” (Franceen) Bartel, Janet Bartel, Wilmer (Marilyn) Bartel
Grandchildren: Daryn (Melissa) Soldan, Daniel (Traci) Soldan, Diane Soldan (Steve) Lautt, Josie Bartel Espada, Joe Bartel, Peter Bartel, John Bartel, Amy Bartel
Great Grandchildren: Alvena Mae “Alvy” Soldan, Molly, Walter and Elsie Soldan, June and Andrew Lautt
Brother: Alfred (Donna) Goossen
Predeceased by: Parents
Husband: Wilbert N. Bartel
Granddaughter: Emily Bartel (infant)
Great Grandson: Matthew Soldan (infant)
Brothers/Sister: Ruben, Anton, Raymond, Della, and Johnny Goossen