Blake William Bartels

CROFTON — Blake William Bartels, 39, Crofton, died Oct. 13, 2021, as a result of a one-vehicle accident near Bloomfield.

Funeral services were Oct. 19 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee, with Rev. Jim Keiter and Rev. Ron Johnson officiating.

Burial was in the Beaver Creek Cemetery, rural Crofton.

Visitation and a prayer service were at church Oct. 18, and continued one hour prior to services Tuesday.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Crofton.

Pallbearers were Tony Cardoza, Brandon Huetig, James Pearson, Taylor Schwager, Kane Fiedler, Kylee Cardoza, Konner Cardoza, Marcus Bartels and Lukas Bartels.

Honorary pallbearers were Blake’s cabin friends and his trucking family.

Blake was born Aug. 18, 1982, in Osmond, to Bill and Margaret (Fyfe) Bartels. He grew up in Laurel until the first grade when his family moved to Hartington. Blake attended elementary at Hartington Public School where he met the love of his life Shandi Marie Heikes. He attended seventh-10th grades at Crofton High School. Blake was a three-sport letter winner in track, football, and basketball. He graduated from Hartington Public in 2001. After high school, Blake moved to Lincoln and worked for Husker Auto Group in car sales. He and Shandi were in Lincoln a year before moving back to Hartington. In 2002, Blake and Shandi had their first child, Payton. During this time, Blake worked as a welder at Wilson Trailer. Blake married his grade school sweetheart, Shandi, Sept. 24, 2004. In 2011, Blake and his family moved to Crofton and he worked independently in seed corn sales. He then started his own trucking company, Blake Bartels Transport, where he hauled cattle and rock up until his death.

Blake and Shandi had four children, Payton, Paxton, Porter and Princeton. Blake enjoyed deer hunting, pheasant hunting, and walleye fishing. He took great pride in keeping his semi-trucks in pristine condition with the help of his wife and boys. Blake was larger than life; he loved his music and enjoyed sharing it with everyone. He spent many weekends boating with his family and friends at their cabin in Sunshine Bottom. He was the king of Snapchat, loved to cook, and earned the title “GrillMaster.” He was an avid Husker fan, but the love and pride he had for his sons outweighed all.

Blake is survived by his wife, Shandi, Crofton; children, Payton, Norfolk; and Paxton, Porter and Princeton, all of Crofton; parents, Bill and Margaret Bartels, Yankton, S.D.; siblings, Nicola Raine, Yankton, S.D.; Kristi Bartels, Omaha; Kari (Gerald) Randle, Yankton, S.D.; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Arnold and

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Arnold and Bobbie Bartels; maternal grandparents, Charles and Margaret Fyfe; sister-in-law, Ashly Carter; and grandfather-in-law, Stuart Heikes.