US AIR FORCE KOREA

Junior J. Bartels, 76, of Genoa, Ill., formerly of Plano and Rogers, Ark., passed away Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in DeKalb.
Born June 12, 1935, in Muscoda, Wis., the son of Amos and Carrie (Milham) Bartels, he was a 1954 graduate of Muscoda High School and attended the University of Wisconsin in Plattville for two years.
Junior was an U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving in radio operations; this led to his career as a FAA air traffic controller for 32 years, retiring in 1995.
Junior was married for 21 years to Virginia Morgan until her passing in 1974. He later married Mary Knief of Burlington on Oct. 20, 1978.
Mr. Bartels was a past president of the Plano Jaycee's and past president of the Plano United Community Fund. He was a proud member of the American Legion of Rogers, the VFW Post 8043 of Hampshire and was a longtime member of the Loyal Order of Moose, both in Springdale, Ark., and DeKalb.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Cheryl Bartels of Oswego and Cathy (Jim) Peterson of Rantoul; two granddaughters, Katie and Carrie Peterson; sisters, Eloise (Lyle) Sieger, Emily Kolman, Margery Mohr, Kathleen (Marvin) Pursell and Susie (Richard) Balousek; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Elizabeth Baker, Leroy Bartels, Virgil Bartels, Maxine Vance and Evelyn Haight.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Fredrick Funeral Home 284 Park St., Hampshire. Burial with military honors will be held at Burlington Township Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at the funeral home.
Memorials in his name can be directed to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation .
For information, call 847-683-2711. Published in Daily Chronicle from September 24 to September 28, 2011