Obit: Bartsch, Leland (1931 - 2006)

Contact: History Buffs

Surnames: Bartsch, Handke, Schilling, Schneider, Wessel

----Sources: Stevens Point Journal (Stevens Point, Portage County, Wis.) 08/31/2006

Bartsch, Leland (20 Nov. 1931 - 29 Aug. 2006)

Leland Bartsch, 74, of 2430 Washington Ave, Plover, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006 at St. Joseph Hospital Palative Care Unit in Marshfield.

Born Nov. 20, 1931, to the late Fred and Clara (Handke) Bartsch. He attended schools in Granton and graduated from Granton High School in 1949. He attended one year at Eau Claire State and one year at Wood County Normal School.

He entered the service in 1951 and serve with the 3rd Marine Division Fleet Marine Force Pacific. He was honorably discharged.

His marriage to Betty Schilling took place in 1951 in Chili. Leland returned to school at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and obtained his bachelor's degree and master's degree in education. He taught in the Stevens Point School system for 32 years.

Leland co-founded, along with Gaylon McCormick, Plover-Whiting Youth Baseball. He also coached teams for 16 years. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing and getting together with his family especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Bartsch, Plover; daugther Judith Schneider, Md.; three sons, Jeff (Susan) Bartsch, Plover, Michael (Lori) Bartsch, Hortonville, Wis. and Raoul (Kim) Bartsch, Carr, Colo.; ten grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Merle (Jane) Bartsch, Granton, Wis. and Don (Lavon) Bartsch, Granton, Wis.

He was preceded by an infant son and one brother, Fred.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Pisarski Community Fumeral Home & Cremation Center in Plover, Pastor Jonathan Wessel officiating. Burial will be in the Plover Cemetery.

Visitation on Friday from 9 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family would prefer you donate to the charity of your choice or to the Lincoln Center where he donated much of his wood craft items.