Eunice Bartels

Eunice Ruth Bartels was born to William and Louise (Hellbusch) Kuhlmann on March 25, 1934 at the hospital in Columbus, Nebraska. She was baptized on April 15, 1934 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Columbus and confirmed this faith on May 16, 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper, Minnesota. She spent her early childhood with her family in rural Columbus where she attended elementary school at St. John’s Lutheran School. In 1941, she moved with her family to a farm in rural Hardwick, Minnesota. She attended country school in District 36 East and graduated in Luverne with other country schools and then finished her education in Jasper High School where she graduated with the class of 1951. She met the love of her life, Elmer Bartels, in the late 1940s. The couple was married on June 10, 1951 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. They farmed outside of Hardwick and the Luverne area until purchasing a farm southeast of Jasper in February 1955. Eunice loved working beside her husband on the farm. They retired from farming in 2003 and made the move to Luverne on December 10, 2010. On Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Eunice passed away at the Luverne Hospice Cottage at 91 years, 8 months and 9 days.

Eunice was a member of Trinity Lutheran in Jasper where she sang in the choir, was active in Ladies Aid and LWML, taught Sunday School for many years, and participated in Bible study groups. She served on the Board of Directors for the rural Electric Cooperative in Pipestone, Minnesota for 19 years, 6 years as director of L & O Power in Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Minnwest Power of Denver, Colorado. Eunice enjoyed bowling, playing pinochle, gardening, going to and listening to the Twins, and watching their sons play baseball, basketball, and football games. Eunice and Elmer traveled to Germany in 1979 and 2007 to visit Bartels and Kuhlman relatives. They also enjoyed traveling to almost every state in our country when going to conventions of the REA and LWML, and the LLL. Eunice greatly enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Eunice is lovingly remembered by her children, Rebecca Bartels of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Rachel Lenz of Victoria, Minnesota, Timothy (Lori) Bartels of Truman, Minnesota, and James Bartels (and special friend, Elizabeth “Bees” Hackett) of Luverne; grandchildren: Crystal (Tony) Kuczynski, Dustin (Jodi) Lenz, Megan (Mark) Herzog, Derek Lenz, Amanda (Nate) Aalderks, Adam (Arianne) Bartels, Alexa Bartels, Alek (Trisha) Bartels, Aidan Bartels and fiancé Katlyn Dykhoff, Isaiah Bartels, and Rio Bartels; great-grandchildren: Annabelle Lenz, Addison Kuczynski, Victoria Lenz, Jackson Lenz, Scarlett Kuczynski, Elijah Herzog, Xavier Kuczynski, Benjamin Herzog, Olivia Herzog, Noah Aalderks, Ajax Aalderks, Estelle Bartels, Penelope Bartels, and Baby Girl Bartels (2026); sister-in-law, Rose Marie (Gene) Meyer of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and scores of nieces and nephews and their spouses. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer; parents William and Louise Kuhlman; brothers and their wives, Elmer and Ruth Ann Kuhlman, Donald and Carol Kuhlman; and sister and her husband Lois and LeRoy Lorenzen.

Eunice and her family wish to extend a special thank you to all of her close friends from Trinity Lutheran, those who visited with her at the Luverne Hospice Cottage, and all who sent prayers for her recovery.

Memorials are preferred to Main Street Living - Sioux Falls and the Luverne Hospice Cottage.