Paul Bartz

Paul Frederick Bartz was born September 26, 1948 to Helmer and Lorraine (Hansen) Bartz in Owatonna, Minnesota. In early childhood he grew up on farms in Owatonna, Hannibal, Missouri, and Austin, Minnesota. While attending high school in Austin, he was very active in 4H raising pigs and cows. He graduated from Austin High School in 1967. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota attaining a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. He was united in marriage to Mary Orlowski on June 16, 1973 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. Their union was blessed with three children and 37 years of marriage together. The couple made their home in Tyler, Minnesota where Paul worked for Highland Vocational Center and Minnesota West as a teacher for adult farm management for many years. He taught Modern Technology and Robotics for RTR. He also served many years on the police force in the communities of Tyler, Lake Benton, and Ivanhoe, Minnesota. In 2010, he was diagnosed with ALS and retired due to declining health. Paul entered Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center on April 1, 2011 where he died April 2, 2011 at the age of 62 years, 6 months and 6 days.

Paul was a member of St. Dionysius Catholic Church and taught CCD. He was a member of Tyler Kiwanis, Cub Scouts, and was a Firearms Safety Instructor. He was proud of Tyler and Lake Benton and was honored as 2010 Tyler Citizen of the Year and 2010 Grand Marshall of Lake Benton Saddle Horse Days. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, planting trees, part time farming, model railroads, Christmas lights and decorating, “Oldies” music, playing cards, and had a gift in mathematics and speed reading. Above all, he enjoyed the time spent with his family and grandchildren.

Paul is survived by his wife, Mary Bartz of Tyler; children, Kyle (and Katie) Bartz and their son John of Storm Lake, IA, Amy Bartz and her daughter Anne of Pipestone, MN, Cole (and Tabby) Bartz and their daughter Ella and soon arriving son, “R.J.” of Sioux Falls, SD; mother, Lorraine Bartz of Austin, MN; siblings, Ralph Bartz of Austin, MN, Lori Bartz of Austin, MN, and Jerry Bartz of Reno, NV. He was preceded in death by his father, Helmer Bartz; maternal grandparents, Frederick and Edna Hansen; niece, Melissa Peterson; aunt and uncle, Archie and Evelyn Steen. Blessed be his memory! Memorials will be established in Paul’s honor for scholarships and fighting ALS.