Joseph Robert Bartell
Joseph Robert Bartell, age 72, passed away May 14, 2025. He spent his childhood in California and Kansas. Joe went to live with his Uncle Gary and Aunt Rose (Bartell) Corns and his cousin, Katrina at the age of 13. Joe was a Vietnam Vet. Joe and Diane (Spellman) were married May 23, 1997. They would have been married 28 years on May 23, 2025. He retired from Smithfield Foods Inc. in 2017.
Joe is preceded in death by his Uncle Gary and Aunt Rose Corns. Joe is survived by his wife, Diane and his fur babies. He is also survived by his cousin, Katrina Savarino (Eric); mother-in-law, Bonnie Kessler; brother-in-law, Matt Spellman (Patsy); sister-in-law, Carolyn Qualls (Craig); brother-in-law, Tim Spellman (Theresa). Joe had 7 nieces and nephews and 11 great nieces and nephews.
Joe had many hobbies throughout his adult life. He enjoyed motorcycling across the United States and jet skiing with the family. He participated in gun competitions where he received many trophies. Joe loved photography and started his own Camera Club Conclave in 2012.
A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. A memorial has been established with: Friends of Felines KS, 810 West Douglas Avenue, Suite C #230, Wichita, KS 67203.
Arrangements provided by: Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.
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Diane met Joe from the phone store dating site. You dial the number and listen to profiles and his matched some things that she liked When Joe agreed to going on a date he told her that he only dates one person at a time didn’t want the other person to be dating around either. They didn’t end up of course dating anyone else. Of course the newspaper was really the only way that had a dating column to look up people back then. A marriage was made and a happy one..
We are so blessed to have had Joe in our family, and we love the love that he brought to my sister.
I’ll always remember the fun we had at the lake while on Joe and Diane’s jet ski. His love of photography was a keystone of who Joe was, and are so lucky to have had such a talented photographer. Some of the married kids in our family was even lucky enough to have photos albums of their wedding masterfully created by Joe.
You are loved and will be missed.
We enjoyed going to Cheney Lake with Joe. He was always giving the kids rides on his jet skis . It was always a fun summer activity when the kids were younger . We were blessed to have Joe as a member of the family. Eternal Rest Grant unto Him O Lord and let the Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him .
Joe had a great camera club, Jack loved doing photography with Joe and his friends until Jack became ill and passed on Jan 1, 2025 Joe and Jack loved to have coffee time, I know they are sharing a cup of coffee in heaven. Joe loved his fur babies so much and was so good to them I always told him if I was a Kitty 😺 I would want Joe to take care of me. Joe we are going to miss you so much but I am so glad your suffering is over, Praise God
I met Joe at the Conclave photography club. I was one of his models. He was very professional and very knowledgeable about photos. After talking to him about his wife and kitties, I found out that I had gone to school and graduated nursing school with Diane and worked with her at Galichia Hospital. Joe was so friendly and I am so glad that I had an opportunity to meet him.
Photos were important to Joe. He made so many calendars throughout the years and shared them with the whole family. It was a wonderful gift that made sure we all knew when birthdays and life’s milestones were celebrated and kept us up to date on the latest kitties.
I still remember my parents telling me my Aunt Diane has a boy friend and how happy you were. And the first time meeting Joe, or at least the first time I remember meeting him, when he drove his truck over to Grandma’s house on Gow and played music for us in the front yard. He was always so much fun and always had a new gadget, piece of tech, or cat to show off. I’m so happy to have had him in the family and that you guys had each other for so many years, from movie collecting to jet skies to endless new cameras and lenses, he always kept things interesting. He will be missed and I don’t know how any of us will ever remember all the birthday’s in the family or what month it is now.