Passed away Friday, December 12, 2008 at Hoyt Nursing & Rehab Centre. Age 96 years. Howard was born on January 15, 1912 in Saginaw to the late Charles W. and Caroline L. (Hauer) Bartels. He married Lorna Schweitzer on September 15, 1945 in Sebewaing, Mich. She predeceased him on November 17, 1999. Howard served in the US Army during WWII. He had worked as a Fire Insurance Inspector, retiring in 1977 after 45 years of service. Howard was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the YMCA Retired Men’s Club and the Germania Town and Country Club. Surviving are two daughters, Carol (James) Hetzner, Saginaw; Beth Bartels, Saginaw; four grandchildren, Jennifer, Saginaw; Michael, of New York; Jonathan, Saginaw; and Daniel (Sarah) Hetzner, of Tenn; two nieces, Lois Lee, of Fla. and Judy Garchow, Grand Ledge, Mich. He was predeceased by a daughter, Marsha Bartels, a brother, Wesley H. Bartels and a sister, Harriet A. Odle.
  The Bartels family wishes to extend their gratitude to all the nurses, aides and staff at Hoyt Nursing & Rehab Centre for their extreme love and care that they gave.
  Celebration of Life will take place 6:00 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2008 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 808 Weiss. The Rev. Charles F. Buckhahn will officiate. Military honor guard will be conducted under the auspices of V.F.W. Carrollton / Zilwaukee Post #1859. Private burial will take place later in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the church on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the American Cancer Society or Hoyt Nursing & Rehab Centre. Memories and sympathies may be shared with the family online at www.WakemanFuneralHome.com Arrangements entrusted to the Wakeman Funeral Home, Inc., 1218 N. Michigan Ave., Saginaw.