BARTEL; Siegfried (1915 - 2016)
On Thursday, February 11, Siegfried Bartel went home peacefully to be with his Lord. Siegfried lived a richly blessed life, beginning in West Prussia. Born into a large family as the sixth of 12 siblings, he met his beloved Erna (Siebert), whom he married in 1939. After serving as Captain in the German army, the couple emigrated to Canada in 1951 with 4 sons, settling on a dairy farm in Agassiz the following year, where two more sons were born. Siegfried spent many years in public life, including on the Agassiz-Harrison School Board (14 years, 9 as Chair), on the provincial Parole Board, and many years on all levels of Mennonite Central Committee. He was a tireless advocate for the needy and disadvantaged, whether the refugee, the homeless, or the oppressed, a care for his fellow human being which grew directly out of his Mennonite faith and convictions.
Predeceased by his wife Erna and their first son, Siegfried, he leaves behind sons Gerd (Regina), Reinhard (Helen), Christoph (Lillian), Alexander (Martha), Dietrich (Jocelyn), Martin (Wanda), and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial service: Wednesday, February 17, 2:00 pm, Eden Mennonite Church, Chilliwack, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, 33933 Gladys Ave #201, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E8. http://mcccanada.ca/