Richard Bartels passed away on 29 November 2025 at age 84.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Norbert and Dorothy (Mitten) Bartels; his in-laws Paul and Luz (Medina) Escamilla; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Frances Tessa Bartels (nee Escamilla) of Bayside WI, his brothers-in-law Michael Escamilla of Memphis TN, and Paul Andrew Escamilla (wife Cynthia Sanchez) of San Antonio TX, as well as his nephew Cpt Paul Steven Escamilla and nieces, Alyssia Escamilla (Andrew Campbell) and Bianca Escamilla. Also, by his fellow "Lieutenants" of Bravo Company: Ken Quade of Appleton WI; Sheldon Sollars of Billings MT; Pete Juvet of Issaquah WA

Richard was born and raised in the Milwaukee area, graduated from Pulaski High School and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he was a member of ROTC and Pershing Rifles.  Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, Army Infantry. He trained and earned the status of Airborne Ranger and served in Vietnam as a combat infantry platoon leader.  In May 1965 he was seriously wounded after stepping on a land mine, earning him a Purple Heart, and eventually a disability rating with the Veteran's Administration.

On returning to the States, Richard moved to New York City where he worked the next ten years as a supervisory securities analyst with a large New York stock exchange company on Wall Street.  He earned an MBA degree in finance and marketing from Columbia University.  He moved back to Milwaukee to work at Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation where he founded and led the International Sales and Marketing department, including management of subsidiary companies in Canada and Mexico.   He was recruited by Bemis Manufacturing of Sheboygan Falls WI in 1997 and became their Vice President of International Business.

After retirement he took a consulting position with US Agency for International Development, spending six months in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Once back home he exercised his creative spirit by taking up sculpture.  He produced several pieces inspired by the work of Alexander Calder, which he gave to friends and hung in the gardens of his Bayside, WI home.

He was an avid gardener, and his garden was the envy of the neighborhood.

Richard and Tessa enjoyed travel, musical theatre, cooking, fine dining, dancing and talking.  Well into their marriage a restaurant server asked if they were on their honeymoon (they had been married about 25 years at that point), because they were "so happy, and talking!"

Per his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio Texas.

MEMORIAL SERVICES

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Family Gathering 8:30am

Memorial Mass  9:00am

St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church

Graveside Service with military honors

10:45am

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Gary Sinese Foundation ( https://donate.garysinisefoundation.org/campaign/721315/donate ) or Wisconsin Veteran's Network  ( https://wisvetsnet.org/ )    In either case, please be certain to indicate gift is " In Memoriam for Richard N Bartels "