BARTSCH, JOHN JACOB OF MILO, ALBERTA PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT THE BROOKS HEALTH CENTRE AFTER A LENGTHY ILLNESS WITH CANCER ON AUGUST 20, 1996 AT THE AGE OF 82 YEARS.
JOHN WAS THE FOURTH CHILD BORN TO JAKE AND FAITH BARTSCH ON APRIL 17, 1914 AT THE FARM HOME NEAR MAJORVILLE. MOST OF HIS SCHOOLING WAS SPENT AT EAST MAJORVILLE SCHOOL AND HE FINISHED HIS EDUCATION WITH TWO YEARS AT OLDS COLLEGE. DURING THE YEAR OF 1937 HE SPENT WINTERING CATTLE SOUTH OF ELNORA, ALBERTA WHERE HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE , ALICE CAMPBELL. THEY WERE MARRIED THE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER 8, 1938 AND AFTER LIVING SEVERAL MONTHS ELSEWHERE THEY MOVED BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD WHERE THEY LIVED THE NEXT FORTY YEARS. IT WAS WHILE THEY WERE HERE THEIR FOUR CHILDREN WERE BORN AND RAISED. THEY MOVED INTO MILO IN MAY OF 1981 AND HAVE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE, TURNING THE FARM OVER TO THE YOUNGEST SON.
AS A YOUNG MAN, JOHN LIKED FAST HORSES AND CARS, ENJOYED DANCES AT THE OLD COUNTRY SCHOOL HOUSES, AND BEING SPOILED BY HIS THREE SISTERS. HE WAS ALSO AN AVID FISHERMAN AND REMAINED SO UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
IN THE FALL OF 1942, HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FARM ACCIDENT LEAVING HIM WITH ONLY PARTIAL USE OF HIS RIGHT ARM AND HAND. HIS FIRST LOVE WAS RANCHING AND IN LATER YEARS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AT THE LEASE WATCHING HIS CATTLE AND SHOOTING THE ODD GOPHER. HE WAS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ALBERTA ABERDEEN ANGUS ASSOCIATION AND PAST DIRECTOR OF THE CANADIAN ABERDEEN ANGUS ASSOCIATION.
JOHN AND ALICE WOULD HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR 58TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THIS FALL.
BELOVED HUSBAND OF ALICE OF MILO, FATHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS, FAY (BEAUFORD) CULP OF STRATHMORE AND PATRICIA (DALE) WALSH OF LYALTA, TWO SONS JAY (KAREN) OF BROOKS AND ALLAN (COLLEEN) OF MILO, ELEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, SIXTEEN GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, THREE SISTERS BEATRICE YULE OF CALGARY, GRACE BUCHANN OF EDMONTON AND BETTIE BEATTIE OF CALGARY.
HE WAS PREDECEASED BY A BROTHER GORDON IN 1935 AND BOTH PARENTS IN I950.
FUNERAL SERVICE FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 1996 AT 2 P.M. AT MILO COMMUNITY HALL WITH REV. ED SUMMERS OFFICIATING.
INTERMENT MILO CEMETERY.
FLOWERS ARE GRATEFULLY DECLINED – MEMORIAL TRIBUTES IN JOHN’S MEMORY TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. TELEPHONE 1-403-485-2633.