Hazel Vera Hilda Barthels

On Tuesday, December 21,2021, after 97 years of grace here on earth, the Lord called Hazel Vera Hilda Barthels to Himself in heaven. She was born on September 20, 1924 to Edward and Alice K. (Jindra) Zell, in Mishicot, Wisconsin. She died surrounded by her family, in the same loving home she made for all of them for the 72 years since she was joined in marriage to Oscar John Barthels in 1949. He preceded her in death in 2016.

Motivated by Christ's love for her, she loved and served her Lord throughout her entire life by dedicating it to serving others, first, her husband and children, then grandchildren and great grandchildren. Additionally, beyond her family, she provided loving care to the countless patients she served in her years as a registered nurse.

We now rejoice with her as she spends Christmas with her husband and siblings in heavenly perfection. But her earthly wit and wisdom will be greatly missed by those who are left behind. Hazel and Oscar nurtured 7 children: Doug (Vikki) Barthels of Green Bay, and their children Tammy, Jason, Aaron (Carrie), Vincent (Michelle), Anthony, Emily (Nathan) Morris and Krissy, 17 great-grandchildren with another expected and 3 great-great-grandchildren; Kathie (the late Ernst H.) Wendland of Town of Two Rivers, and step-children Ernst R. (Margaret), Mark (Louise), Anne (Don) Whitlock, Claire Rayford, Paul (Margaret), 20 great-grandchildren and 26 great-great-grandchildren; Carol (Scott) Wagner of Manitowoc, and their children Joshua (Meghan), Sarah (Phil) Hubbard, Jeremy (Nicole), Laura (Ryan) Kubsch, and 15 great-grandchildren; Robert (Karilynn) Barthels of Town of Mishicot, and their children Rachel (Sam) Willems, Julia (Justin) Marshall, Jonathan; Marilyn Maresh (John LeBreck) of Manitowoc and her children Jeffrey (Amanda), Becky (Jeff) Wetzel, and Nathan (Angie) and 9 great-grandchildren; Margaret (Ken) Wentker of Mishicot, and their children Louise (Brian) Stevens, Natalie, and Katie; Ellen (Brian) Blashka of Manitowoc, and their children Matt (Sarah), Jason (Kristin), Mike, Joe (Libby), Leah (Wes) Brown, and Rachel and 9 great-grandchildren. Also mourning her loss are Tom (Susie) Maresh of Francis Creek, Mike (Louise) Kesting of Appleton, and many, many nieces, nephews, friends, and relatives.

A special thank you to granddaughter-in-law, Nicole Wagner, who was her hospital guardian angel and kept her company and advocated for her during her hospitalizations.

Baptized as an infant, Hazel learned to know and love her Savior through her parents and St. Peter's congregation, of which her father was the pastor. She confirmed that faith on October 31, 1938. Hazel benefited from a Mishicot Public School system education from first grade on, graduating from Mishicot High School with the class of 1942.   She spent part of the war years as a civilian working on a military base in Arizona.

She graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing and became a registered nurse in 1947. She worked for Dr. Edgar Huth in Valders for a time after graduation and then served as a public health nurse for several years before taking time off to raise her children. She returned to full time nursing in 1964 and was instrumental in helping set up the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital in Manitowoc.   She retired in 1988 from Memorial as Assistant Director of Nurses.

Hazel loved celebrations. She hosted countless events for her family and friends at the home farm. Everyone was welcomed and, along with the normal planned life celebrations, a party and improvised meal could break out at any moment. She might also be remembered for her unique gold double hoop eyeglasses. She wore them for 4 decades and no one could resist commenting on them. Though macular degeneration eventually robbed her of most of her eyesight, those glasses were never far from her. So iconic they were that long after replacement parts became unavailable, Optician John at the Manitowoc Eye Clinic made it his personal mission to keep them in service, soldering and retrofitting the pieces as needed. When he retired, he provided her with his personal info so he could continue to provide his services.

Hazel is now reunited with those who have gone to heaven before her: her husband, Oscar, and her parents and parents-in-law, George and Louise (Wolter) Barthels, son-in-law Ernst H. Wendland, her siblings and brother/sisters-in-law, Alice E. Zell, Baby Evelyn Zell, Ruth (Waldemar) Zarling, Edward (Jayne) Zell, and William (Marian) Zell,

brothers/sisters-in-law Elsie (Norman) Lorenz, George (Anita) Barthels, and infant great granddaughter, Valerie Stevens.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 28th at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mishicot, WI with the committal service to follow at Mishicot Public Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 PM on Monday, December 27th at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, and continue Tuesday morning from 9:00 until 10:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manitowoc Lutheran High School, or a Christian ministry of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.dejamartin.com.

The Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home of Mishicot is assisting the Barthels Family with funeral arrangements.