- Date Of Birth: May 5, 1949
- Date Of Death: November 21, 2018
- State: Illinois
Karen Bartelt, age 69, of Washington, IL, passed away on November 21, 2018 just as the sun was rising over the home that she and her husband built and the woodlands that she loved so well. Her family was by her side.
Karen Elizabeth Ziege was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 5, 1949 to Russell and Betty (Bloedel) Ziege. She grew up in the suburb of Wauwatosa and later attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she earned a BS in chemistry. As an undergraduate, she helped conduct research on moon rocks collected on the Apollo 14 mission. She would later earn an MS in chemistry at Drexel University and a PhD in chemistry at Montana State University.
While in an undergraduate physics class at UW, Karen met the love of her life, Bob Bartelt. They married in 1972. During the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in Michigan and New Jersey as Bob changed duty stations with the Coast Guard. Eventually they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where they had a son, Erik and a daughter, Jill. The family then spent several years in Montana before ultimately settling in Central Illinois. Their household was completed by a series of beloved dogs: Katie, Vinnie, Cheyenne, Hannah, Heidi, and Sasha. Karen showered affection on all of them.
During her professional career, Karen taught chemistry and other science-related courses at Eureka College, Illinois State University, Bradley University, and Illinois Central College. She was a tireless advocate for logic, reason, and critical thinking. In the words of Carl Sagan, she saw science as “a candle in the darkness.”
Karen deeply loved the natural world. When the children were growing up, she and Bob took them on numerous camping and hiking trips throughout the West and Midwest. While on these trips, she was always on the lookout for wildlife; turtles, owls, moose, and baby animals of all kinds were among her favorites. She also delighted in watching the creatures that passed through her yard.
Karen likewise kept her camera close during the many trips she took with Bob after their children were grown. The two became avid world travelers, exploring the natural wonders of North, Central, and South America. Karen brought back hundreds of beautiful photos of the rich, vivid wildlife they saw while traveling. The birds in particular seemed to pose for her, often looking directly into the camera.
Curious by nature, Karen never stopped learning, and she had a wide variety of interests. In recent years, she conducted extensive genealogical research into her own family history as well as Bob’s.
Karen will be remembered for her intelligence, her tender heart, her wit, her warmth, her courage, and her generosity. She will be desperately missed.
Survivors include Karen’s husband, Bob Bartelt; her son, Erik (Natasha) Bartelt; her daughter, Jill Bartelt (Marc Nelson); her sister, Kris (Rich) Leaver; her grandchildren, Calvin, Hazel, and Levi Bartelt; and countless other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.
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