Gary Bartels (66) of St. Elmo

Gary Bartels, 66, of St. Elmo, died at 10:11 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2024 at SSM St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2024 at St. Elmo High School with Rev. Dr. Roger Marshall officiating. Burial will follow at Oakridge Cemetery, Effingham. A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2024 and for two hours prior to service time on Saturday, all at the high school. Memorials may be made to Illinois High School or Junior High Rodeo, St. Elmo Church of God, St. Elmo Fire Department or Lighthouse Pregnancy and Health Services. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with arrangements.

Gary Lee Bartels was born on Saturday, September 7, 1957 in Wheaton, Illinois to Monroe and Melba (Austin) Bartels. He married Glenda Mellendorf on May 27, 1993 in rural St. Elmo. He was the owner and operator of MBI Construction. Gary was a member of the Church of God in St. Elmo, the NRA, AQHA, AOPA, and life member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He was a trustee of the St. Elmo Fire Department and president of CCI Redi-Mix. Gary loved hunting, riding horses, and the month of October. He enjoyed having the grandchildren in the pool. He was a Cubs fan, helicopter pilot, a Jack-of-all trades and a joke teller. He very much enjoyed his Canadian friends and was a friend to many.

Gary will be loved and missed by all. In addition to his wife, he is survived by; his mother, Melba, Effingham; sons, Joshua Gary (Kayla) Bartels, St. Elmo and Garrett (Grace) Bartels, Altamont; daughters, Tamela (Justin) Polanin, St. Elmo, Heather (Josh) Nelson, Mason, and Jessica (Nathan) Lotz, St. Peter; brothers, Monte (Shirley) Bartels, Beecher City and James (Patti) Bartels, Effingham; sisters, Sheryl (Troy) Kyle, Shumway and Janis (Steve) Holste, Altamont; 15 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father.

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